ASIAN GAMES

Boxer Asif plans to train in Kazakhstan

By Our correspondent

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

“I plan to go to Kazakhstan for training. Habibullah Jafferi, who owns two clubs in Quetta and is also my coach, is managing the tour for me. He will also go with me,” Asif told ‘The News’ from Quetta on Thursday.

After Mohammad Waseem switched over to professional boxing in early 2015, Asif emerged as a capable replacement in the flyweight category. He is touted by the boxing experts as a future star for Pakistan.

In the Commonwealth Games in Australia last month Asif had 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 also 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 the Asian Games is yet to begin, Asif’s tour to Kazakhstan would be a great opportunity for the youngster to prepare better for the Asiad to be held in Indoensian 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 Jafferi had contacted them and would again intimate the federation about the tour.

He said they would go to Kazakhstan by road via Iran. Pakistan are expected to field seven boxers in the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) told ‘The News’ that the PSB had not yet given them any specific date for holding camp.

“We are yet to get any date for the camp. It’s getting delayed. We wanted to hold it in the start of May but unfortunately the whole month was missed. Had we held camp in May we would have improved the fitness level of boxers. But still we have told the boys to keep fitness level. We have warned them that if any one fails the fitness test will be expelled from the camp,” the official said.

The PBF also plans to send its cream to Iran for training ahead of the Games.A tour of Jordan is also under consideration.