Boxers not getting proper diet

The Asian qualifying round for Rio Olympics is just 21 days away but the national boxers are not being provided with a balanced diet during their training here at the PSB Coaching Centre.

During a visit to the camp on Wednesday this correspondent learnt that milk and fruit were missing from the diet being given to the 22 pugilists preparing for the vital assignment.

“There is no milk and fruit in our diet which are very necessary, particularly at this stage of training,” a boxer told ‘The News’.

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has not yet issued a letter to the PSB Coaching Centre for providing diet facilities to the boxers. It has been learnt that Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain is bearing the diet expenses from his own pocket as the federation has nothing in its kitty.

“It would have been even more difficult to maintain the training camp had Iqbal not managed the diet,” another boxer said.

It was also learnt that PBF president Doda Khan Bhutto had not visited the camp since it began after the return of national pugilists from India where they won four silver medals in the South Asian Games.

Pakistan last appeared in Olympics boxing event in 2004 in Athens.

Meanwhile, four speed balls have been installed at the boxing hall by coaches to enhance the speed and strengthen the hands of the boxers.

Three of the speed balls have been provided to a senior coach by the son of Major Rasheed, late international referee and judge.

“The boys are not used to it but speed ball is very important for them,” a senior coach said.

Boxers are training for four hours a day, divided in two sessions of two hours each.

“The boys will reach the peak form by March 10 after which the training load will slowly be reduced,” a coach said.

The qualifiers are to be held from March 23 to April 3 in the Chinese city of Qian’an.

Three boxers in each weight category in the continental event will move into the Rio Games to be held in August.

The selectors have almost finalised the ten-member squad for the China event.

They are taking time before the formal announcement as there are a few boxers of almost equal skills in a couple of weights.

A minor change is expected to be made to the squad that featured in the South Asian Games. Mehmood-ul-Hasan and Mir Waiz have almost been picked in the two heavyweights.

Awais Ali Khan, Mohib Bacha, Mohammad Asif, Niamatullah and Ali Ahmed are likely to be selected. US-born Umar Cheema is also expected to make his international debut for Pakistan in the 64 kg category. He has applied for a Pakistani passport which his father said he would get it in a couple of days.

During a chat with the boxers it was learnt that they wanted to do something stunning for the country in the qualifiers.

“This is a good chance for us and we hope a few of us will click in China,” one of them said.

However, a boxer said that a short international tour would have augmented their qualifying chances.

After the continental event, national boxers will still have a chance at the world qualifying round to be held in Azerbaijan capital Baku in June.