ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) is set to initiate a youth boxing programme to help promising pugilists, PBF secretary general Lt Col Nasir Ijaz Tung said on Tuesday.

“As per our plan, we are to introduce competitions in three youth categories — 12-14 years, 14-16 years and 16-18 years,” Tung said.

Unveiling the details, he said work on the programme would commence in the first week of November with the holding of a youth championship for both male and female boxers.

“We are yet to select venue for the inaugural championship but we are done with all other necessary working for that,” he said.

He added that the first championship would be followed by two other back-to-back events.

All the boxing associations, he said, had been issued directions to start preparing pugilists for the championships.

“Three provinces will be given the responsibility to hold boy competitions, while one province will be asked to arrange contests for the girl boxers,” he said.

The PBF secretary hailed Pakistan’s top pro boxer Mohammad Waseem, hoping that his feats would inspire country’s boxers.

Waseem, the World Boxing Council silver flyweight champion, retained his top position by defeating Panama’s Ivan Trejos in a ranking match last week.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2017