PBF seeks govt funds for Olympic qualifiers
top official of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) on Thursday said that he expected that the government would bear all the expenses of the national boxers who are set to feature in the Asian qualifying round for Olympics in China
A top official of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) on Thursday said that he expected that the government would bear all the expenses of the national boxers who are set to feature in the Asian qualifying round for Olympics in China later this month.
“I held a meeting in Islamabad with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera today. I briefed him about the need to field a full-fledged team in China,” PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain told ‘The News’ from Islamabad. “Tomorrow we will meet again and I am confident the government will support our trip which will cost us around Rs2.2 million,” he said.
He said he told Ganjera that participation of an increased number of boxers would increase the chances to qualify for Olympics.
National pugilists are training here at the PSB Coaching Centre under the supervision of experienced coach and former international boxer Ali Bakhsh.
The PBF will unveil its final squad after taking final input from the PSB regarding funds.
Pakistan may field boxers in all ten weight categories in the qualifiers which will be held in the Chinese city of Qian’an from March 23 to April 3.
The strength of the pugilists training has been slashed and only a few boxers are training with those who are expected to be picked.
As per rules three boxers in each weight category will advance to the Rio Olympics, which are to be hosted by Brazil in August.
The last time Pakistan’s boxers took part in Olympics was in 2004 in Athens.
Pakistan’s professional boxer Mohammad Waseem is also training with the national pugilists for his forthcoming bout against Indonesia’s John Bajawa to be held in Seoul on March 19.
“Waseem’s presence in the camp is helping us. He is a great boxer and we benefit from doing sparring with him,” a boxer said.
The PBF wants to field boxers in the heavyweights at all costs in the China affair. “In the heavyweights we will get more chance as the number of entries will be less in China’s event,” Iqbal said.
(Source: The News)
