Pakistan sending four boxers to South Korea

KARACHI: After long silence, Pakistan’s boxing authorities are finally set to provide some exposure to the national pugilists as four boxers and a coach are being sent to South Korea for a month-long training by May 15.
The training will be held in Incheon in connection with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Incheon Vision Programme from May 15 to June 10.
“Yes, the tour has been confirmed as we have got invitation and visa supporting letter from the
organisers,” Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain told ‘The News’ on Wednesday.
If it goes ahead, this will be after seven months that the national pugilists will get a solid training opportunity on foreign soil ahead of their Olympic qualifiers to be held in the next few months.
The touring boxers will be the country’s leading boxer Mohammad Waseem, Ali Ahmed, Awais Ali Khan and Gul Zeb.
“Gul Zeb and Awais are young boxers and we hope the tour will help them hone their skills,” Iqbal said.
“Sheraz and Abdul Qadir of Navy were also considered but their case could not be processed because of the unavailability of their passports,” Iqbal added.
Waseem and Ali were part of Pakistan’s squad in the last year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Incheon Asian Games.
Tariq Siddiqui of WAPDA will be accompanying the squad as coach.
“I have filled in the visa forms and will try to complete the process as soon as possible,” Iqbal said.
The tickets will be sent by the organisers. “It is a fully sponsored tour,” Iqbal said.
The Mayor of Incheon is sponsoring the programme.
The OCA had written to Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), which forwarded the details to PBF and the federation contacted the organisers of the programme.
Pakistan have tough assignments ahead in the shape of ASBC Asia Confederation Boxing Championship to be held in Bangkok from July 2-11, World Championships in Doha in October and the Asian qualifying round for 2016 Rio Olympics in March and April of 2016.
The four boxers who are being sent to Korea will be part of Pakistan’s squad in these assignments.
“Sure, they will be part of the Olympic qualifying round. But our plan is to make a substantial addition to the pool as we would like to field in these events boxers in maximum weights,” Iqbal said.
He was quick to add that it all depends on resources. The PBF wants to send boxers to Japan as well. “I am contacting the president of Japan Boxing Association. If he extends his support we can send the boxers directly to Japan from Korea for one-month training. The ticket from Korea to Japan is also cheap. If former Pakistan boxer Hussain Shah helped us as he had promised the tour of Japan could be made possible,” Iqbal said.
He said if Japan tour was made possible the PBF would try to send two or three more boxers from Pakistan to join them.
Coach Tariq Siddiqui said the tour would help the boxers. “Korea is the best option as far as boxing is concerned. Japan is also good,” Tariq told this correspondent.
“I told the PBF officials that they should not send us but they should send the boxers as they are in dire need of quality training,” Tariq said.
Waseem also hailed the PBF step, saying it would certainly help them learn. “If it happens, it will be a good step forward,” the 2014 Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist told ‘The News’ from Quetta where he is undergoing training.