Pak women boxers to make international debut in SAG

KARACHI: Pakistan’s women boxers will make their international debut at the South Asian Games, which will be held in India next month.

Initially, it was expected that Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) would drop the women boxing side but in the meeting with the federations in Lahore the other day it was decided that women boxers would also be sent to India.

The organisers have kept only three weights for women which are 52kg, 60kg and 75kg. To pick women boxers for a training camp, Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) on Friday decided that the trials for the purpose would be held on January 4 in Peshawar.

Qadir Zaman of Peshawar and former international and AIBA 1-Star coach Nouman Karim from Lahore will be serving as coaches.

PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain told ‘The News’ that four women boxers from Lahore had already been sent to Peshawar for trials. “A few are being sent from Sindh and some from other regions,” he said. “We will try to assemble 16 boxers in the camp so that good practice could be made,” the official said.

“There will be complications in the start but gradually we will be able to streamline the things for future challenges,” Iqbal added.

The PBF will have to send its final three-member squad to SAG organisers by January 5 which is the last date for confirming entries by name.

The PBF will hold trials for finalising men’s team here at the PSB Coaching Centre. “There are 12 to 14 boxers in the camp. Other boxers have also been instructed to ensure their presence by January 4 so that trials could be completed,” Iqbal said.

“Those absent would not be considered,” Iqbal added.

The participating nations will compete in seven weights in the men’s boxing. All the three heavyweights have been excluded by the organisers. “We are confident we can send a solid men’s team,” Iqbal said.

The South Asian Games will also help Pakistan’s men boxers to get some practice ahead of the Asian qualifying round for Olympics which will be held in China in March.