KARACHI, May 1: The arrangements for the third Continental Olympics boxing qualifiers will be given final shape in the organizing committee meeting to be held on Sunday at a local hotel.
Talking to PPI on Saturday, president Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Prof Anwar Chowdhry said, "We will review the arrangements and other matters in a meeting and give them final shape."
The 3rd Olympics qualifiers will be held at Karachi from May 6 to 12 at KPT Sports Complex. Thirty top boxing nations will be competing in the event and have confirmed their entries.
Pakistan had already three qualifications from the first two qualifiers held earlier this year including Asghar Ali Shah, Mehrullah and Nauman Karim.
The PBF chief said that it would be a huge responsibility on the organizers to hold it in a befittin manner.
He said that most of the countries would be participating with their full force and would compete in all the 9 weight categories of the event.
He said, "It will not be an easy task for us due to (entertain) such large participation with such limited resources."
Prof. Chaudhry said that around 200 pugilists would gather for top honours in the event.
About Pakistan's preparations for the event, he said, "Some 26 boys are under training in the ongoing camp by the coach Renaldo Alvaris. Now as our three pugilists have already qualified for Athens we do not have much concerns in the event and are not keen to get more than two qualifications from the event."
He said that Pakistan would compete in the five weight categories that are flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, lightwelter weight and light middleweight.
He was optimistic of the two qualifications from the event due to the advantage of home conditions.-PPI