Two changes to boxing squad likely

KARACHI: Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) plans to make two changes to the squad that featured in the South Asian Games in India recently for the next month’s Asian qualifying round for Rio Olympics.

“Arshad Hussain and Gul Zeb disappointed us and we are considering resting them for the Olympic qualifiers,” PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain told ‘The News’ on Wednesday.

Arshad (69kg), who also played in the 2010 Asian Games, and young Gul Zeb (64kg), who featured in the Asian Championship in Bangkok last year, failed to impress in the biennial event in India where Pakistan clinched four silver medals in men’s boxing.

“Tanvir, who played in 75 kg in the SAG, may play in 69 kg in the qualifiers. Waseem Abbas could come to the 75 kg category. Amir Khan may be picked to replace Gul Zeb in the 64 kg category,” Iqbal revealed.

Three boxers of the heavyweights will be added to the final list because the boxing slots in the South Asian Games were held in seven weight categories. Ten boxers will be fielded in the Asian qualifiers to be held in China’s city of Qian’an from March 23 to April 3.

Awais Ali Khan (81 kg) will be an automatic choice. “Yes, he will be there,” Iqbal said.

Sanaullah and Mehmod-ul-Hasan will fight for the 91 kg seat, while Mirwaiz and Mirza Azam will battle for the 91 kg+ berth.

“We will pick the best two in these weights,” Iqbal added.

As per qualification rules, three boxers in each weight from Asia/Oceania will make it to the Olympics.

Pakistan may also avail itself of another chance as the 2016 AIBA World Olympic Qualifiers are also pencilled in for June 7-19 in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku. “Filing the entries for that event is yet to begin,” Iqbal said.

He added that Pakistan had a chance of qualifying for Rio.

“The way Ali Ahmed, Mohibullah and Mohammad Asif played against the Indian boxers in the South Asian Games finals has given me a lot of hope. They played brilliantly without any standard training. Some Indian newspapers declared Ali and Mohibullah as winners,” Iqbal claimed.

Pakistan coach Ali Bakhsh has also blamed referees for Pakistan’s failure to end their journey without any gold medal.

Pakistani boxers will return home from India on Thursday (today). And they will go straight to the camp to resume their preparation for the Asian qualifying round. The camp will be held here at the PSB Coaching Centre.

The newly-hired Cuban coach Comas Aguilera Bernardo is expected to join the camp by the end of this month. “The agreement with the Cuban coach has been signed. He will reach Pakistan by February 25 to 28,” Iqbal said.

The Cuban has been hired for one year.

Iqbal said that two changes would also be made to the coaching panel. Amir Mughal and Ahmed Zahir will be brought in place of Tariq Gujar and Tariq Siddiqui.

However, he was quick to add that the experienced coaches Ali Bakhsh and Arshad Hussain would be part of the coaching panel.

Three coaches will go to China with the squad. When asked whether the foreign coach could bring improvement in the squad in a short time, Iqbal said: “I hope he will do.”

He said the PBF had requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for financial assistance for fielding the squad in the qualifiers. “Our main focus in the camp will be on speed. We will also hire the services of a psychologist in order to work on the mental strength of the boxers,” Iqbal said.

Pakistan’s heavyweight boxer Mehmood-ul-Hasan had to face first round exit in the World Championships in Doha last year. The event also served as qualifiers for Rio. Mehmood was the only boxer of Pakistan who had qualified for the World Championship after playing well in the Asian Championship held in Bangkok in August last year.