Boxers to vie for top honours from Nov 25

KARACHI: As many as 132 boxers from across the country will be seen in action when the 35th National Boxing Championship begins here at KPT Sports Complex from November 25 in Karachi.
This was revealed by Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) president Doda Khan Bhutto at a press briefing here at KPT Sports Complex on Saturday.
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Gilgit Baltistan will make their debut in the five-day affair. Both regions are not yet affiliated with the PBF and only have playing rights.
Karachi last time hosted the national championship in 2008.
Ten boxers each from four provinces, including Army, PAF, Navy, Railways, WAPDA, Higher Education Commission (HEC) and FATA will compete. Eight players from Gilgit Baltistan, six from K-Electric and four each from Islamabad and KPT will represent their teams.
Doda said all the arrangements had been completed.
“Everything is ready. Teams from other provinces will be boarded in hotels near the venue,” he said.
The venue has been renovated and the ring has also been revamped. This venue holds the significance for hosting an international boxing tournament a few years ago.
Doda said that foolproof security arrangements had been made to carry out the event in a peaceful manner.
“We will have the support of rangers, police and security agencies,” Doda said. “Lyari General Hospital will provide medical assistance,” he added.
“We are thankful to the Sindh Sports Department for assisting us in the cause,” Doda conceded.
The event will also be an opportunity for the national pugilists to carve a niche for themselves in Pakistan’s squad for the Asian qualifying round for Olympics.
The slots are being organised by Sindh Boxing Association (SBA) with the collaboration of PBF.
Responding to a query, Doda said that due to political influence within the sport, the event could not be held in the last few years.
“It would have been useless to arrange the national event without the support of some of our key units like the armed forces,” the PBF official said.
When asked about his differences with his secretary Iqbal Hussain Doda, he said he had no differences with him.
“There is no truth in the media reports and all rumours are baseless,” Doda said.
When asked why WAPDA did not release their boxers for the Asian Championship in Bangkok in August this year, Doda said that Iqbal might have differences with WAPDA’s coach and he had no knowledge about it.
“It was the responsibility of Iqbal. Neither I blame anyone, nor do I interfere in the affairs of Iqbal or the coach,” Doda said.
“WAPDA is with us and you will not see any such thing happening in the future,” he added.
About Pakistan’s qualifying chances for the next year’s Rio Olympics, Doda said efforts would be made so that a few boxers could qualify.
“We hope to make it as we will field boxers in the Asian qualifying round for Olympics in China in March,” Doda said. “But we are facing more problems since we don’t have a foreign coach and also proper equipments. Besides, we have not received any state funding since 2011,” Doda pointed out.