Has Pakistan boxing thrown in the towel?

Hussain Shah’s medal-winning performance at the 1988 Seoul Games where he won the bronze gave a boost to Pakistan boxing. In the nineties, Pakistan’s boxers won medals at the international level including the Asian Games. In fact, with prolific boxers like Shah and the late Abrar Hussain on their side, Pakistan won more medals in boxing than any other sport.

But things have gone south for Pakistan boxing.

The last time Pakistan featured in an Olympic boxing competition was way back in 2004 in Athens. Then, Professor Anwar Chowdhry, who was the country’s boxing chief, was also the president of the International boxing association (AIBA).

Chowdhry, who was a highly influential figure in international sport, passed away in 2010. His demise, it seems, was the last nail in Pakistan boxing’s coffin.

Today, Pakistan boxing is in a shambles.

Such is the state of the sport in the country that the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) is unable to even send its boxers to compete in major event like the upcoming Asian Boxing Championship or next year’s World Boxing Championships.

Hopeless situation

In the past, several Pakistani boxers used to qualify for the Olympics. Now there is little hope that any pugilist from this country will be able to feature in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Boxing’s fortunes have declined in the past 20 years but things have never been this bad. One of the prime reasons for the sorry plight is the ongoing tussle between top PBF officials and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

The PBF-PSB relationship has seldom been good but things really went bitter after the defection of Pakistan’s experienced boxer Zohaib Rasheed before the Paris Olympics World Qualifiers in Italy last March.

Zohaib’s episode forced PSB to impose ban on PBF president and secretary.

Lack of financial support

Now a big question is how the PBF and national boxing will survive without the assistance of the government or corporate sector.

The government did not national boxing camp for the Paris Olympics. The camp was held at the Railways Sports Complex Lahore, a facility which was not suitable for the preparation for a major event like the Paris Games.

This correspondent saw the plight of the boxers on two visits to the camp and the quality of diet which they were taking.

And after vanishing in Italy, Zohaib Rasheed also termed financial issues as the sole reason behind his defection.

Pakistan's premier boxer Zohaib Rasheed vanished in Italy just before the start of the world qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics in March this year.Asian Boxing Confederation

“You know it was not easy to do. Things build with time and eventually compel you to take tough steps for your future and your children’s future. I used to meet my boxing expenses from my own pocket most of the time. You saw in Lahore the condition of the boxing camp for the Olympics Qualifiers. It was a club level camp with no facilities. Even we used to contribute for purchasing milk and other food items when there was need. Although I admit that the authorities used to return us that money which they used to get from us in emergency,” Zohaib said.

“There were even no punching bags in the camp and we used to go to various clubs to do our training. How can you prepare for the Olympics in such a situation?” asked Zohaib.

Zohaib put some life in Pakistan boxing by lifting a couple of bronze in the Asian Under-22 Championship and Asian Senior Championship and he had emerged as Pakistan’s Olympics hope. However, after his defection not much has been left in the country’s boxing.

In 2014 Incheon Asian Games now professional fighter Mohammad Waseem won bronze. It was after 12 years that the same medal came at this stage.

PBF-PSB tussle

Meanwhile, it was surprising that the state took such strict action against PBF on defection of Zohaib. It did not react when two boxers Suleman Baloch and Nazeerullah vanished during the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

And now due to strained relations with the state boxing may face big issues the near future.

A senior official of the PBF has said that PBF would not be able to field its boxers in the Asian Championship and World Championship.

“We cannot send our boxers to the Asian Championship in Amman next month. From where we can bring such a big amount required for it,” PBF secretary Col Nasir Tung told Nukta in an interview.

PBF secretary Col Nasir TungPakistan Boxing Federation

“The cost on one boxer is around Rs 1 million and we can’t afford that. Camp costs, air-fare and accommodation expenses have increased manifold and it’s difficult to cope with it,” Nasir said.

“If we even field three boxers and one coach it will cost us Rs3.6 million. And if training expenses are added to it then the costs will shoot up further,” he added.

“We have regretted that we will not be able to come to the Asian Championship due to financial issues. There is no state and corporate sector support. The state also will not even give us NOC to participate in the event. We hardly get information for the event six weeks ago and state’s NOC timeframe is eight weeks,” he said.

The Asian Championship will be held in Amman from November 28 to December 12.

About Pakistan’s participation in the World Championship which is more likely to be held early next year Nasir said he cannot say what will happen. “I think chances are slim,” Nasir said.

IBA Youth World Boxing Championship

Meanwhile in latest news, Pakistan’s Mohammad Ali Shehzad fell in the second round when he was undone by Oner Seiilkhan of Kazakhstan 5-0 in the light middleweight (67-71kg).

Before this Shehzad, who belongs to Azad Kashmir, downed Aadyn Hicks through RSC in the light middleweight (67-71kg). Pakistan had fielded a single boxer in the event which is in operation at Budva, a coastal town in Montenegro.