LAHORE: Army, Wapda and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa earned equal honours winning two bouts each, while Police, Sindh and Railways won one bout apiece as nine fights were decided in the first round on the opening of the 36th National Men’s Boxing Championships at the Wapda Sports Complex here on Saturday.

One result was also decided in the inaugural National Women’s Boxing Championship.

Army pugilist won the first fight when their Mohammad Saeed toppled Maaz Khan (Railways) on points in the 49kgs weight category. S. M. Asif won the second fight for Army in the 52kgs category when he beat Asif Raza (Navy).

Wapda earned the victories in the 49 kgs weight as their Mohibullah defeated Sheroz Kachi of Sindh and then Naqeeb Ullah drafted victory against Fahim Ahmad of Pakistan Air Force in 56 kgs.

Similarly, KP’s Eidullah toppled Ehtisham of Islamabad in 49kgs fight, while their Uzair Saeed also completed a win on point against Ibrahim Ishtiaq also of Islamabad in 52kgs.

Bashir Ahmad was the only boxer of Police who remained successful on the first day as he defeated Faiz Ullah of Balochistan in 52 kgs weight fight.

Sindh’s Hamid Hussain won against Momin Zaka of Punjab also in 52kgs weight. For Railways, Noor Elahi brought victory, defeating Zafar Khan of Karachi Electric in 52 kgs weight.

In the women championship, which is being held for the first time, Razia Bano of Sindh became the first women boxer of winning the fight at the national level. She defeated Rabia Bibi of Balochistan in 52kgs weight category.

Results:

49 Kgs: Eidullah (KP) bt Ehtisham (Islamabad); Muhammad Saeed (Army) bt Maaz Khan (Railways); Mohibullah (Wapda) bt Sheroz Kachi (Sindh).

52 Kgs: Bashir Ahmed (Police) bt Faiz Ullah (Balochistan); S.M Asif (Army) bt Asif Raza (Navy); Hamid Hussain (Sindh) bt Momin Zaka (Punjab); Noor Elahi (Railways) bt Zafar Khan (KE); Mian Uzair Saeed (KP) bt Ibrahim Ishtiaq (Islamabad).

56 Kgs: Naqeeb Ullah (Wapda) bt Fahim Ahmed (PAF).

1st Women National Boxing Championship 2018:

52 Kgs: Razia Bano (Sindh) bt Rabia Bibi (Balochistan).

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2018