ISLAMABAD: The seven-member boxing outfit announced for the last qualifying round for the Rio Olympics has been reduced to five due to fitness problems with the boxing squad departing for Baku from here late on Monday to feature in the qualifiers.

According to Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain, the US-born Umar Cheema (64kg) and Amir Khan (69kg) would not be featuring in the qualifying round due to fitness problems.

“Those vying in the event to fulfill their Olympic dreams include Awais Ali Khan (81kg), Mohammad Tanveer (75kg), Ali Ahmed (60kg), Niamatullah (56kg) and Mohammad Asif (52kg),” he said.

The qualifiers start on June 16.

If any Pakistani boxer qualifies for the Rio Olympics, it will be after a gap of 12 years that the country will have representation in boxing at the world’s most prestigious multi-sports event.

Pakistan’s last appearance at Olympics in boxing was in 2004 when five Pakistani boxers featured in various weight categories in Athens. However, none of them could advance to the quarter-final stage.

Syed Hussain Shah won a bronze medal for Pakistan in boxing in the middleweight division (71 - 75 kg) at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2016