Delay in Olympics blessing for Pak boxing

KARACHI: Pakistan’s highly experienced coach and former Asian gold medallist and two-time Asian Games bronze medallist Ali Bakhsh on Sunday said that the delay in Olympics is a blessing for the country’s boxing, stressing that the authorities should focus now on four top boxers for the World Qualifying round.

“Yes, its good and a sort of blessing for Pakistan that Olympics have been delayed but this opportunity should be fully exploited,” Ali told ‘The News’ in an interview. “If not more at least four top boxers should be kept on radar and they should be given top training. Training in Pakistan will not help them develop and qualify for Olympics,” said Ali, who has claimed gold in the 1980 Asian Championship in Mumbai.

“But for that new selection should be made. You cannot send any boxer on the performance of the Asian qualifying round because of the too much gap and you will need to conduct fresh trials or hold a national level event so that the top stuff could get a chance to press for seats in national squad for world qualifiers,” Ali stressed.

Pakistan had fielded three boxers in the Asian and Oceania Qualifying round held in Jordan last month. However they failed to leave any impression, having exited in the first round. The world qualifying round was scheduled in Paris in May but due to COVID-19 pandemic a fresh dates will be issued in future. Ali said that once the situation of COVID-19 becomes clear Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) should send the cream abroad for training for ample time whatever is available.

However he was quick to add that without state input it would not be that easy to impart quality training on foreign soil to the boxers. “The government should support boxing. It is the most important discipline and Pakistan has to its credit numerous medals at the top level in its legacy,” said Ali who claimed bronze medals in the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games and 1982 Delhi Asian Games.

Ali said Pakistan have a bunch of good boxers but effort should be made to work on their weaknesses. “Those boxers who went to Jordan for Asian qualifiers have weak points and those should be removed,” Ali said. He was not happy with the way boxing is being managed in Sindh. “Lyari’s boxing has lost its glory and it is because of the way Sindh boxing is being managed. Lyari and Karachi have produced top boxers but now the same region seems to be dried up as in the last two national championships and Peshawar National Games no Lyari boxer lifted gold and its disappointing,” Ali said.

“We even don’t know who is running Sindh boxing. There is no active club in interior Sindh but still votes from there. Club scrutiny is very important for bringing genuine people to the association,” Ali pointed out.

“Look in era of Professor Anwar Chowdhry association used to give clubs in Lyari and other parts of Karachi globes and other equipment but we don’t see such things here. You see some events here in Sindh but the way these events are conducted they cannot benefit boxing,” Ali said. He said that in Balochistan boxing is fairly good. “Talent still comes from Balochistan as those people are working and are fond of boxing,” Ali said. “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has nothing solid as only a single individual has controlled boxing there. Punjab is working as talent comes from there but may be they face issue in coaching which prevents their boxers from stabilising their careers,” Ali said.