Promotion of boxing prime objective, says Aamir: Five divisions complete Punjab Boxing C’ship trials

LAHORE: Sports Board Punjab (SBP) conducted the trials of Inter-Division Punjab Open Boxing Championship here on Saturday.

Around 350 boxers from five divisions - DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Faisalabad and Sahiwal appeared in the trials at Tennis Stadium on Saturday while the trials of remaining four Divisions – Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Gujranwala will be conducted at the same venue on May 6, 2018.

The championship will be held under the slogan of ‘Kaun banay ga Punjab ka boxing champion’ at State of the Art Punjab Tennis Court, Nishtar Park Sports Complex from May 12 to 15, 2018. Jury members - Arshad Javed Qureshi, Jamshed Kazmi, Ch Imran, Abdul Haq, Raees Azam, Ghulam Murtaza and M Zubair supervised the trials process. A large number of boxing enthusiasts witnessed the trial matches at the Tennis Stadium. Sports Board Punjab made excellent arrangements for the boxing probables. Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Aamir Jan said the prime objective of Inter-Division Punjab Open Boxing Championship is to promote the game of boxing among young generation and women, he said this while talking to media on the first day of boxing trials at State of the Art Punjab Tennis Court, Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Saturday. Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Aamir Jan also inspected the arrangements of Inter-Division Punjab Open Boxing Championship. Director Sports Anees Sheikh, Director Admin Javed Chohan, Deputy Director Hafeez Bhatti, Assistant Director Raees ur Rehman, PRO Abdul Rauf, DSO Multan Rana Nadeem Anjum and other top officials were also present on this occasion. Replying a query, Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Aamir Jan said a large number of under-16 boxers are participating in this championship and this is golden opportunity to identify young boxing talent. “We are quite confident that after the completion of event, we will get sufficient boxing potential. And even Pakistan can win boxing medal in Olympics if POA, PBF and all quarters make sincere and combine efforts for the promotion of boxing in the country,” he opined. To another question, Aamir Jan said the participation of women boxers has enhanced the importance of the Inter-Division Punjab Open Boxing Championship. “We will hold this championship every year on regular basis to trace young boxing talent in Punjab province,” he maintained. Aamir Jan further said all the arrangements have been completed for the mega event. “Sports Board Punjab will provide best facilities to all the participants during their stay in Lahore,” he added. Aamir Jan urged the young generation including students to take part in this event to the maximum. “This boxing championship is open for all aspirants and a big opportunity for new comers to learn and experienced boxers to sharpen their skills”.