National Boxing Championship begins today

KARACHI: It will be a testing time for key international boxers to maintain their supremacy in their respective weight categories when they appear in the 35th National Boxing Championship which explodes into action here at KPT Sports Complex on Wednesday (today).
The finalists of every weight category will be kept in the national camp which will be resumed soon after the competitions for the South Asian Games and the Asian qualifying round for the Rio Olympics. Heavyweight boxer Mehmood-ul-Hasan, Sanaullah, Ali Ahmed, Nadir Baloch, Mohib Bacha, Amir Khan, Awais Ali Khan and Qadir Khan are some of the key boxers who need to perform well if they want to play in the international events in near future.
Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) president Doda Khan Bhutto told ‘The News’ on Tuesday that Director General Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Maj Gen Bilal Akbar would inaugurate the competitions.
As many as 132 boxers from 15 different units will show their worth in the event which will last till November 29.
Doda said all the outfits had reached the port city.
He said the weigh-in would be held in the morning on Wednesday (today).
He said 15 referees/judges of the PBF would officiate during the five-day affair.
Doda said all the former international boxers had been invited to witness the bouts.
The event is being organised by Sindh Boxing Association (SBA) with the collaboration of PBF.
Doda said that on Thursday (tomorrow) the PBF’s general body meeting would also be held at the same venue. “There is no controversial point on the agenda. We will put our heads together to make joint efforts for the revival of Pakistan’s boxing,” Doda added.
He said it would also be decided which province would host the next national event.
“In future we will not miss the event and each year a province will host it,” the official said.
He also revealed that All Pakistan Boxing tournament would be staged in Karachi in December.
“We also plan to conduct a national event for women in Karachi in January,” Doda said.
Keeping in view inclusion of women boxing in the next year’s South Asian Games in India, the PBF has decided to organise events for women and hunt talent for national duty.