KARACHI Twenty-one nations have confirmed their entry for the inaugural Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship scheduled to be held at the KPT Sports Complex Gymnasium here from January 2 to 8, officials of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) told a news conference here on Monday.

'We have got the security clearance from the authorities concerned and we are going ahead with the mega boxing event, named after former prime minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto,' PBF President Doda Khan Bhutto, Secretary Mohammad Akram Khan told reporters here at a local hotel.

'Foolproof security arrangements will be made for the safety of foreign teams in and around the hotel and at arena during the competition,' Doda added.

The PBF chief said the Federal Interior Ministry and the Federal Sports Ministry have already given formal approval for staging the event.

Akram said besides teams from Asia and Africa, the Indian Boxing Federation is also sending the team for the championship.

Besides foreign countries, he added, Pakistan will be entering two combinations in all the 11 weight categories of the competition.

Countries which have so far confirmed their participation included Afghanistan, China, Central Africa, Ghana, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Syria, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Hungary.

He said the participating teams will start arriving in Pakistan on December 31.

He said an organising committee cum security briefing was held here which was attended by Provincial Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Mohammad Shoaib Siddiqui, EDO Sports CDGK Rehana Saif, Wing Cdr Tahir Ahmed (Rangers), SSP Security Sindh Police, Maj Rashid and officials of the PBF. —APP