“It was a big day for me. I am still not sure whether this happened in reality or if I am still dreaming,” exclaimed 13-year-old Kamran while glancing at his own cheap boxing gloves.

“He exchanged punches with me and gave me a pat on my back. What a privilege to meet in person a boxer we have only seen on TV,” said Kamran, who came to the Peoples Sports Complex from Chakiwara where he trains at a local boxing club in the evening after attending school. In between, he sells chaat in his mohallah to help supplement the household income.

But on Aug 26, Kamran skipped school to sell chaat early in order to make it to the stadium to meet his idol. He was among scores of aspiring young boxers who turned up at the venue only to get a glimpse of Amir Khan, the British boxer who wants to set up a boxing academy in Lyari.

Lyari, which is often highlighted in the news as a haven for gangsters and drug peddlers, has never given up its passion for football, boxing, cycling, bodybuilding and donkey-cart racing. Still, a large number of gangsters killed in recent months in encounters with security agencies were young boys, many of them teenagers. With a shabby education system, few job opportunities, poverty and lust for power scores of Lyari children go astray.

Jubilant on meeting Amir Khan, young boxers from Lyari share their feelings

Fifteen-year-old aspiring pugilist Arsalan said that the temptations are still there in his over-populated crime-infested neighbourhood but his dreams help keep him focused. “Not every boy is a criminal or carries a gun in Lyari,” he said adding that although some of his schoolfellows did join gangs but for him boxing remains his passion and saving grace.

Arsalan was also one of several young and old boxers holding bags of rose petals provided by the organisers to shower on the two-time light welterweight champion. “I could not get closer to him because he was surrounded by Rangers, but it is heartening for me to see some of the petals I threw land on him,” he said.

Shehroz Kachchi, a young pugilist who also boxed in front of Amir Khan during a 49kg exhibition bout, said that the memories of the ‘great day’ will remain with him for the rest of his life. “How often is it that you find an international star coming to see you fight in the ring, share tips with you and coach you? It is a dream come true for all of us,” he said as he huffed and puffed after the match.

Zohaib, another lucky teenager, was allowed to enter the security cordon and listen to Amir offer tips to the pugilists. Despite the British accent and liberal mix of English with Urdu and noise all around, Zohaib got to hear enough to define his future. “It was beyond anyone’s dream; it was the best day of my life. I love boxing even more than before now,” he said. “I’ll probably be the first among those joining the academy he has promised to setup in Lyari,” he said.

“This area is full of talent just waiting to be tapped,” said Amir Khan as he was adorned with an ajrak and Sindhi topi.

“You all are world class stuff and I will come here again soon to help you go out and conquer the world.”

The organisers also believed sport to be that ‘one last hope’ to bring back peace to Lyari. And Amir in their midst made their belief firmer.

“He will change the game in Lyari in all respects. He will not just be helping our boxers but also encouraging all our peaceful people to fight against injustices and crimes for they too are the victims,” said Asghar Baloch of the Sindh Boxing Association.

Abdul Ghafoor, who coaches in a local club in Baghdadi area, said that Lyari was a place known for breeding champions and that most teenagers here are fighting in the ring and not on the streets. “Like always most of our children still go to school and take part in sports. They tackle each other in football grounds and fight in rings. We are still largely as peaceful as we were years ago,” Ghafoor said as he watched the Rangers shielding Amir Khan.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, September 6th, 2015

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