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LONDON: Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Haroon Khan says that the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) is still not giving him due acknowledgement for his talent and is set to prove his worth at next year’s Olympics.
Khan’s relationship with the governing body deteriorated after the Commonwealth Games last year in which Khan trumped Britain’s Andrew Selby to claim a flyweight bronze while competing for Pakistan.
Khan is still angry at the BABA and will bid to prove British selectors wrong again with Pakistan, who he has dual nationality with, at 2012 but insists he isn't the only one being treated in such a way.
“I would love to know what I have done to not deserve a place in the British squad,” Eurosport quoted Khan as saying..
“Even after my performances at Commonwealth Games I've had no contact from the BABA. I proved my point there but they showed no interest. Rob McCracken [British performance director] hasn't had the chance to see me box and so I don't know how they can know if I'm good enough or not.
“And I think there are lot of boxers who are good enough who aren't getting the chance. I'm not sure why, but they've got their favourites and as a result they're missing out on so much talent. I would have preferred to fight for Britain but it's great that I can fight for Pakistan and still compete. I'm lucky that I've got that dual nationality so I can still compete, but a lot of guys don't have that opportunity.”
Khan may have been shunned by Britain but he has big brother Amir Khan to help him for the World Championships in September.
“I'm really looking forward to the worlds and it's really important in terms of the Olympics,” he added.
“I've been out Los Angeles with Amir and I got to spar with some really good American amateurs.”
