ISLAMABAD - Pakistan outclassed Afghanistan in the Pak-Afghan friendship Combat boxing event held in Peshawar at Qayyum Stadium, Lala Aman Boxing Arena.
Pakistani boxers showed their class by winning gold medals in 49kg, 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 64kg and 69kg bouts. In 49kg category Sheroz won gold, in 52kg category Ayed Asif won gold, in 56kg category Nehmatullah won gold, in 60kg category Imtiaz Khan won gold, in 64kg category,Adnan Hasan won gold and in 69kg category Arshad Hussain won gold.
All the six boxers, who won the gold for the country were of the view that despite winning in different national events they don’t have resources to fulfill their dreams. Only Adnan Hussain, Arshad Hussain and Nehmatullah are on payroll of the Pakistan Air Force while other three are jobless. One of the boxers, Sharoz, is a student who is very keen to continue to take active part in boxing and represent country in international events but doesn’t have resources to continue. Sharoz said he belonged to a lower middle class family and they can’t afford heavy expenditure and diet and requested the government and Pakistan Sports Board to provide funds to help the boxers to realize their goals.
Syed Asif Ali, who belongs to Hazara Community, said he was on Railways panel for four years and despite becoming Inter-railways and national champion, he was not paid by Railways despite making several promises. “I spent four best years of my life and gave all to my department but at the end of the day, I was left with no other option but to quit Railways. I belong to a very poor background and my guardians can’t afford expenses required to fulfill my dream of becoming a world class boxer. Boxing is my life. I can’t even think life without boxing. I work as a daily wager and carry burden on my back in the day time to earn some money and practice in the evening. I am currently number 1 ranked in 52kg category. I can win international bouts and Asian Games but all I need is the financial patronage from the concerned authorities.”
When this correspondent contacted DG PSB Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera and seeks his views on boxers apathy, Ganjera said: “I invited boxers along with their officials and secretary Pakistan Boxing Federation at PSB on Monday and immediately gave 1 tracksuit, 1 pair of shoes, 1 kit bag, 1 tie and I would also hold a reception in their honour. As far as funds allocation is concerned, we had provided Rs9 million to PBF in 2012 but the amount was not delivered where it belonged. We had already conducted an inquiry in this regard and the case is pending with NAB. We would provide sufficient funds to federation and try to ensure players would be the beneficiarie.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Boxing Federation president Doda Khan Bhutto had made huge financial embezzlements, around Rs 10 million is still pending of different vendors of Islamabad, who are running from post to pillar to get their dues cleared, but there is no one who could provide justice and take Doda Bhutto to task and provide justice to deprived persons and especially players, who suffer the most.