Asian Games: Asif plans to train in Kazakhstan

KARACHI: Pakistan’s promising boxer Mohammad Asif plans to train in Kazakhstan to prepare for the Asian Games.

“I plan to go to Kazakhstan for training,” Asif told ‘The News’ from Quetta on Thursday. “Habibullah Jafferi, who owns two clubs in Quetta and is my coach, is managing the tour for me. He will also go with me,” he added. After Mohammad Waseem switched over to professional boxing in early 2015, Asif has emerged as a capable replacement in the flyweight category. He is touted by boxing experts as a future star.

In the Commonwealth Games in Australia last month, Asif qualified for the quarter-finals.Asif said Kazakhstan’s tour would help him a lot. “I need quality training for the Asian Games. Kazakhstan is a strong boxing nation. It has world boxing academy in Almaty and its club standard is fairly strong. Hopefully I will get some quality sparring opportunities there,” Asif said.

As national camp for Asian Games is yet to begin, Asif’s tour to Kazakhstan will be a great opportunity for the youngster to prepare for the Asiad, which is to be held in Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.

When asked whether he had informed Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) about his intended trip to Kazakhstan, Asif said Habibullah had contacted them and would intimate the federation about the tour.

He said they would go to Kazakhstan by road via Iran. Pakistan is expected to field seven boxers in the Asian Games.Meanwhile, a senior official of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) told ‘The News’ that the PSB had not yet given them any specific date for holding the camp.

“We are yet to get any date. It’s getting delayed. We wanted to start it from the beginning of May but unfortunately the month was wasted. Had we held camp in May we would have improved the fitness level of boxers. We have told the boys to keep their fitness level. We have warned them that if any one of them fails the fitness test at the beginning of the camp he will be expelled from the camp,” the official said.The PBF plans to send its best boxers to Iran for training ahead of the Asian Games. A tour of Jordan is also under consideration.