LAHORE: The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) is organising a training camp here from May 15 in order to prepare national pugilists for two forthcoming events, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain said here on Tuesday.

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in July followed by the Asian Games to be staged in Incheon, South Korea in September-October.

“These are very important events for which we will be starting our preparations in Lahore with a camp to be attended by 15 boxers. The boxers for the camp will be selected on the basis of their standing and performance in national and international events, held at home and aboard,” said Iqbal.

He added that the national camp would start soon after the conclusion of Wapda inter-unit competition featuring top boxers from across the country.

“We will soon be announcing names of the boxers who willbe attending the camp to be run by coaches Ali Bukhsh, Mohammad Tariq, Tariq Gujjar and Majeed Brohi.”

The PBF official further said that six boxers would be representing Pakistan both at the Commonwealth and Asian Games. “The team management will comprise three officials for both the competitions.”

To a question, Iqbal said it is a positive move of Pakistan Sports Board to extend support to Pakistan Olympic Association led by retired Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan for sending national contingent to the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

“The Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination is also taking interest inresolving the issue of the genuine POA recognised by the IOC and the OCA and there is dire need to create close coordination between the POA and the PSB in order to serve country’s sports in a better way and to enhance Pakistan’s image at the highest forums of International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia,” he added.

Answering a question, he said the PBF could not pay attention to revive the game at grassroots level owing to various reasons.

“We devoted our all energies in ensuring our teams’ participation in such boxing events in which participation is mandatory otherwise we could have lost our affiliation at world and Asian level.

“With the POA, IPC and the PSB working together Pakistan sports will enter into a new era ensuring a better future for the country’s sports and sportsmen,” Iqbal added.