October 16, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 9, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: The national boxing federation stands to gain following the remarkable performance of the their boxers at the Asian Games, Brig Saulat Abbas, head of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) told Dawn Tuesday.

“We have to start supporting boxing in a big way because our boxers have done really well in the Asiad and the Commonwealth Games.”

In the Asian Games that concluded in the South Korean city of Busan Monday, the boxers won six medals including a gold out of Pakistan’s total of 13 while at last July’s Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Haider Ali bagged a gold.

“We have to start concentrating on boxing more than ever before and in this regard we have recommended that the grant of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) be doubled,” Saulat said.

The PSB it is understood had written to the sports ministry that the PBF’s annual grant be enhanced after the Commonwealth Games. Also in line for a raise are the shooting and weightlifting federations, two disciplines that earned Pakistan medals in Manchester.

“The summary at the moment is with the finance ministry which will then forward it to the Chief Executive’s secretariat for final approval.”

Credit for bringing Pakistan boxing to the forefront goes to Prof Anwar Chowdhry who as the president of the national federation has certainly helped raise the standards of the sport. Chowdhry also heads the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA).

Mehraullah claimed Pakistan’s only gold of the Asian Games in the 57 kg category while Noman Karim (51 kg), Asghar Ali (63.5 kg), Ahmed Ali Khan (75 kg) and Shaukat Ali (91 kg) picked up silvers with Mirza Mohammad Iqbal capturing a bronze.

Pakistan’s other medals were two bronze in the snooker doubles (Saleh Mohammad-Naveen Pervani) and teams competition (Mohammad Yousuf, Saleh Mohammad and Naveen Pervani), a bronze each in kabaddi and rowing (Mohammad Akram, single sculls) and a silver in sailing (Shehryar Arshad and Mohammad Riaz, enterprise open). Another silver and bronze in squash won by Shahid Zaman and Mansoor Zaman respectively completes the tally.

Expressing his views on the overall performance of the contingent, Saulat said that he was very satisfied with the results.

“A good number of sports that we sponsored have earned us medals,” he pointed out.

The PSB had sponsored a total of 15 disciplines including bodybuilding, billiards and snooker, boxing, hockey, kabaddi, rifle shooting, karate, rowing, sailing, squash, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, wrestling and weightlifting.

“I was particularly confident about the boxers doing well, and they have done tremendously well by winning six medals.”

In tennis, Saulat said that Aisam-ul-Haq’s absence was a blow and it was sad to see the hockey team failing to win a medal for the first time ever. “We had sent a couple of girls in swimming and that was basically to help them gain experience.”

The weightlifting team, that was without Mohammad Irfan, winner of three silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, was a key factor in Pakistan not winning a medal.

Irfan’s whereabouts are not known as he disappeared before the Asian Games. But Saulat said that he was sure he would come back to represent the country.

Saulat hoped that with the kind of show put up by the boxers, the government was sure to take note. “I am also recommending that the entire boxing squad including the coach be given an audience by President Pervez Musharraf, the way he honoured the hockey and cricket teams.”