Pakistan boxers’ Olympics hopes fading

Pakistani boxers are on the brink of missing the Asian qualifying round for Olympics as Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has refused to provide funds to Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) for the purpose.

“It looks difficult to send the boxers to China for qualifiers as funds have not been arranged as yet. The PSB says it does not have funds,” PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain told ‘The News’ on Monday.

It would be a big blow for Pakistan if the pugilists did not go to China for the qualifiers to be held in Qian’an from March 23 to April 3.

Not a single Pakistani athlete has so far made it to the Rio Games.  The hockey team has failed to qualify — for the first time in history.

It seems that no one in Pakistan’s sports hierarchy is ready to back the boxers who have been training vigorously for the last several months for the continental qualifiers.

“I have hardly managed Rs400,000 but it’s too meagre to send the squad with. It will be sufficient for sending only one boxer and a coach but that would be of no use,” Iqbal said.

The PBF has picked nine boxers and three coaches for the trip after holding a series of trials.

The PBF faced a similar situation ahead of the national pugilists’ participation in the Asian Championship in Bangkok in August last year.

Only a few hours before the boxers’ departure for Bangkok did the PSB release funds for the tour following pressure put by media.

This correspondent tried to contact the PSB Director General Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera and the minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada but they were not available for comments.

A few days ago Riaz Pirzada told this correspondent that he would try to arrange funds for the boxers. But it seems that the minister has also not taken the matter seriously.

“For the last four days I have been trying to contact the minister and the DG PSB but to no avail,” Iqbal said. “Even today I tried several times but their mobile phones are switched off.

It would be a big blow to the prestige of the country if we failed to compete in the qualifiers. Should I run after funds or look after the boys who are training?” Iqbal asked. “It’s ridiculous. For the last three years I have been spending money on Pakistan’s boxing from my own pocket. The PSB has given me not a single penny,” Iqbal said.

“I know that some people are conspiring against me. They don’t want sincere people to run the federation. But I am confident all our units are intact and nobody can unsettle our federation,” Iqbal said.

“I have approached everyone but to no avail. Where are the Prime Minister and the federal minister for IPC? The government is spending millions on the Inter-Provincial Games and other events but it does not have Rs2 million for the boxers who are going to win seats in Olympics,” said Iqbal.

It is pertinent to mention here that the PSB is spending Rs137 million on Inter-Provincial Youth Games, slated to be held in Islamabad from April 4-7.

This correspondent also learnt that the PSB has told the PBF that it should leave the PSB’s Karachi Centre on March 22. It means that the pugilists will have to go back home on Tuesday (today) if the PBF failed to decide about Pakistan’s participation in the Olympic qualifiers.

For around three weeks the boxers were not given milk and fruit during training because of funds problems.

Through the Qian’an’s qualifiers three boxers in each weight category will make it to the Rio Games which will be held in August.

If Pakistan failed to feature in the qualifiers, it would be a major disappointment for those experienced boxers for whom the Rio Olympics are likely to be the last chance to play at the world’s biggest stage.

(Source: The News)