KARACHI: Over 100 top pugilists representing 15 affiliated units of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) will fight for supremacy when the 35th National Boxing Championship gets into action at the KPT Sports Complex from Wednesday.
“Efforts are being made to make the country’s premier boxing event a success which is taking place in the city after six years,” the PBF president Doda Khan Bhutto said on Saturday while addressing a press conference.
The units that will compete include Army, Navy, PAF, Wapda, Railways, HEC, K- Electric, KPT, Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Fata and Gilgit. Two teams — Fata and Gilgit — will make their maiden appearance in the event.
He said hosting of the event will cost approximately Rs5.0 million and the sports department Sindh is lending financial support by providing a major chunk of money.
The PBF chief said Sindh Rangers and Police have assured to provide security cover to the players and officials.
The outstation boxers, other than departments, will be provided boarding and lodging in hotels close to the venue, he added.
Doda Bhutto informed that Asian Youth (under-19) Boxing Championship will be held in the city in Sept 2016.
He added that efforts would be made to send maximum boxers to the last Olympic qualifying round being held at China in March next.
It is pertinent to mention that no Pakistani boxer has qualified for the Rio Olympics so far.
According to him, Pakistan Rangers Sindh will play host to the all-Pakistan Amir Khan boxing championship from Dec 12 at the Peoples Sports Complex.
Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2015
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