The early ouster of our five pugilists in the first and second rounds of different weight categories of the World Boxing Championships, which recently concluded in Milan; Italy was not at all surprising. The mega event brought together as many as 544 Olympic medal winners as well as champion boxers from 144 different countries of the world, as they fought out for the 44 medals — 11 gold, 11 silver and 22 bronze — at stake in 11 weight categories.
The World Boxing Championships have always been regarded as the biggest assembly of boxers — more challenging and demanding than the Olympics or any internationally famed event. Both events are contested by amateur boxers, except for the 2002 Asian gold medallist Meharullah Lasi, who returned to international boxing after completing his two-year ban. He was tested positive for using banned drugs during the 2006 Colombo South Asian Games.
However, this year Meharullah failed to offer any formidable resistance in the first round 57-kilogram fight against Germany's Sandro Schaer 3-0. Meharullah seems to have passed his best and expecting great results from him at this point might be wishful thinking. Aamir Khan also suffered first-round defeat in the 64-kilogram bout against Generbert Basadre from Philippines. Nisar Khan too was a first round loser against Congo's Henry Bembe.
However, Mohammad Wasim, the bronze medallists from Bangkok King's Cup and the international tournament in Turkey, held in April and May respectively this year demonstrated his fighting skills really well. He defeated Oraz Avzalshoev of Tajikistan in the 51-kilogram fight to reach the second round where he was beaten by Bulgarian Alleksandrov. Wasim showed great promise as he fought the battle with courage and passion.
Pakistan was, however, out of the championships when Rashid Fateh, who had a bye in the 48-kilogram first round draw, lost the second round battle against Cuba's Daniel Matellon Ramos in a one-sided bout. Nevertheless, participation in the Milan championships provided a great opportunity to the new setup of the Pakistan Boxing Federation to restore Pakistan's image, which was disfigured when the AIBA imposed a life ban on former president Professor Anwar Chaudhry from holding any office in any international body on the charges of financial mismanagement, in October 2006.
Chaudhry was the chairman of the Pakistan Boxing Federation and even after the AIBA life ban remained the most powerful man in boxing in Pakistan as neither the Pakistan Olympic Association nor the Pakistan Sports Board took any action against Chaudhry after the ban.
Pakistani boxing suffered for a good two years as the PBF refused to send any representatives to attend the Asian body election meetings. The PBF elections were finally held during the end of last year in Islamabad and Doda Khan Bhutto was elected as new president with Amir Akram Khan as secretary. The federation over which Chaudhry presided for more than four decades did not build or acquire a place to set up a PBF office, but the new president Doda Khan set up a PBF office at the Panorama Centre only two months ago.
The International Amateur Boxing Association chief welcomed the new setup and assured the AIBA's all-out support for development of the sport in the country. Sources say that after the Pakistani boxers were out of championships, they were provided training and coaching till their return home by the AIBA chief. However, the NA Committee on sports still needs to probe into the PBF affairs, for winning medals does not immunise the higher-ups from accountability.
