Published 02 Apr, 2009 12:00am
KARACHI After remaining in oblivion and completing a two-year ban for failing a dope test, Pakistans star boxer Mehrullah is looking to comeback with a bang, hoping to regain Asian Games gold next year.
Gunning to regain lost glory, Mehrullah says he is hoping to stage a comeback in August as he wants to get into shape for international boxing after a two-year layoff.
'I am back and almost 80 to 85 per cent sure that I will be able to win gold or at least a medal at the upcoming South Asian Games and Asian Games next year,' the featherweight told Dawn.com on Thursday.
Mehrullah, who burst into the limelight when he grabbed gold at 2002 Busan Asian Games, is struggling to regain form and fitness in the national training camp in Karachi set up for next year's South Asian Games in Bangladesh, and Asian Games in China.
It has become an even bigger challenge for him to stage a comeback since he with team-mate Faisal Karim, was slapped a life ban by Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) in 2006 after both tested positive at Colombo's South Asian Games for using cannabis. The organisers had recommended six-month suspension, but PBF imposed a life ban on him.
However, it was later converted into two-year suspension as per International Boxing Association (AIBA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Mehrullah, who made headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2006 when he was caught by police with two bottles of liquor in his kitbag at Green Hill Cup venue, is still rusty because of two-year inactivity. He now wants to familiarise and mould himself according to the latest changes to the international boxing rules.
The 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games silver medallist says that he wants at least two months to get acquainted with rules before staging a comeback in August.
'I have asked camp management to give me at least two months to get myself into shape according to the new rules. Three years ago when I was boxing, there were four two-minute rounds and one-minute break. But now we have three rounds of three minutes each and one minute break in between the rounds. For this, I have to adjust myself and need some time,' said Mehrullah.
The pugilist, who was awarded five million rupees by former President General Pervez Musharraf for winning the Asian Games gold, said although it was a good feeling to be back, the two-year ban had done the damage as he missed 2008 Beijing Olympics.
'I was unfortunate that I missed the Olympics because of the ban. But as my parents want me to box, I have returned to the ring. Besides, I have also a family to look after now. But it's not only the financial aspect. Boxing runs in my blood and I love my country. Some box for fame, some for fortune, Mehrullah boxes for Pakistan. I want to see Pakistan again on the victory stand in boxing,' said the boxer who has married nine months ago.
Pakistan has been going through an unprecedented slump in boxing since the ouster of Anwar Chowdhry as AIBA president. The downfall started when Pakistani boxers returned without any medal from 2006 Doha Asian Games.
It had been alleged by several boxing officials that Pakistan managed to win medals because of manipulations in results by Chowdhry who was also the PBF chief.
Mehrullah, however, says he might be back to top form only on the condition that he is offered ample opportunity to practice and quality training.
'We have been invited by Korean Boxing Federation to train in Seoul in late April. I hope I will be part of the group which will train there. All I need is such training opportunities. Only then I can perform. Age is not a big factor. One needs spirit. I will also guide my junior camp mates who will become champions tomorrow,' said the 30-year-old.
