KARACHI – A six-member Pakistan team will leave here Friday morning for Baku (Azerbaijan) to make their debut at World junior (17 to 18 years) boxing championship starting at Azeri capital April 24 (tomorrow). The team is:
48kg: Obaid Ali, 51kg: Syed Muhammad Asif, 54kg: Ataullah, 64kg: Tanvir Ahmed. Cuban Francisco will be the coach while experienced boxing official/organiser Akber Ali Shah will be the manager.
Akber Ali Shah, who has been associated with the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) for a number of years, talking to TheNation on the eve of the departure of the team said, Pakistan would be making its debut in the championship in which the highest ever 109 countries are taking part. He said as many as 550 boxers from around the world would be fighting for 54 medals at stake in the event. He disclosed the championship originally was to be started on April 20 but due to disruption of air flights in Europe because of the volcanic ash over Europe, the starting date of the event was brought forward to April 24 by the world boxing body AIBA.
He said Pakistan team for the competition was picked from a junior event organised recently at Hyderabad. Cuban coach Francisco selected all the four boxers.
He said the Pakistani youngster would get big opportunity to appear in a world event where they would be playing against some of the best juniors of western countries. It would be great experience for the Pakistani, he hoped.
He disclosed that the president of the PBF Doda Khan Bhutto had arranged all the money needed for team’s travel, boarding and lodging. He said he could not say what amount was needed for the trip but said it must be big. The team during their 12-day stay in Baku would pay USD100 for each member of the team. This amount did not include the air tickets, he added.
He praised the personal attention given by the PBF president in arranging funds for the boxing since he took over the federation.
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