August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 6: Once considered a significant force in Asia, Pakistan’s boxers will not be seen in action at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as they failed to qualify for the greatest sports show on earth for the first time in 48 years.

Sacking of Prof Anwar Chowdhry from the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) a couple of years ago coupled with poor management and infighting within the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) were the two main factors as not a single boxer managed to qualify for the Beijing extravaganza.

“It is highly disappointing that our boxers will not be in action here in Beijing,” said Pakistan’s chef de mission Syed Aqil Shah. “I think after hockey, fans always pinned their hopes on boxers.”

Lyari-born Syed Hussain Shah of the KESC stamped his country’s name in Olympic boxing history when he won the first-ever bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 1988 Seoul Games, only to send a wave of jubilation across the country, particularly in downtrodden Lyari.

Hussain, who also won four straight South Asian Games titles, migrated to Japan a decade ago.

After 20 years no Pakistani boxer could qualify for the Olympics in a country like China, which established its boxing system with Pakistan’s assistance.

Five Pakistan boxers — Meharullah, Sohail Baloch, Asghar Ali Shah, Faisal Karim and Ahmed Ali Khan — had the honour of participating in the 2004 Athens Olympics, though all of them failed to go beyond the second stage of the event.

—APP