April 24, 2003	Thursday	Safar 21, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, April 23: Prof Anwar Chowdhry, the Pakistani president of the International Boxing Association on Wednesday minced no words in saying that the way things were going, he saw no future of the sport in the country.

“There is no appreciation for what our boxers have been achieving internationally and on top of that the grant president Gen Pervez Musharraf had promised five months ago to us is still awaited,” said the professor, who also heads the Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation (PABF).

“We have been winning medals at the Asian level regularly but no praise has been forthcoming; however the importance we got after the last Asian Games in Busan was because it were the boxers who outshone the rest of the Pakistani contingent.”

The Pakistani boxers won a gold, four silvers and a bronze while no other sportsman could strike gold. “It was primarily because of this that boxing gained attention, although as far as I am concerned it was no achievement.”

It received such attention that Gen Musharraf announced enhancement of PABF’s annual grant from Rs 200,000 to Rs 10 million till the Athens Olympics. “Unfortunately the president’s directive has not been implemented with the Games drawing closer and I am very disappointed.”

Chowdhry pointed out that India were spending over Rs 30 million on boxing yet their boxers do not win medals. “It is not just the money that counts, you have to have a big heart to fight.”