ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Pakistan’s five boxers headed for Melbourne for this month’s Commonwealth Games have only gold on their minds.

Mehraullah Lasi, Asghar Ali Shah, Nauman Karim, Abid Ali and Muhammad Nisar are all in top shape for the March 15-26 Games and say they are aiming high.

“We have to think big to win big,” said Nauman, a silver winner at the 2002 Asian Games. “Our coach has told us clearly to aim for the sky.”

“Although we are going to do our best, it wouldn’t matter though if we end up winning silver or bronze.”

The 23-year-old Nauman who will compete in the 51kgs category says that a boxing league in Karachi had done a world of good to them.

“It has provided us a perfect competitive environment and has been of invaluable benefit to us all.”

The boxing party arrived here from Karachi on Sunday where they had been in training ever since the Islamabad SAF Games in 2004.

Asian champion Mehraullah whose gold at the Busan Asiad had led to a windfall of Rs 6 million from official quarters, wants to make a big impression in what will be his first Commonwealth Games.

But the unassuming boxer from Lyari who built a house with the money he got following his Asiad heroics, was a bit concerned after not being paid two- month salary by his employers Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

He was served a show cause notice for leading a group of contractual players who went to request a minister to have them all regularised.

“It was on our sports manager’s report that my salary was not paid.”

“Such things tend to put you off and temporarily affect your concentration,” said Mehraullah who will be fighting in the 57 kgs category at the Games.

“It hurts especially when one does everything to earn honours for the country.”

The boxers claim they have still not been rewarded by the government for winning the Asian Championship in Vietnam last year where they picked up three gold and a silver medal.

“So much hard work goes into winning medals but at the end of the day we feel bad when all efforts go unacknowledged,” said Asghar the national champion.

It was Asghar, Mehraullah and Shaukat Ali who struck gold at the championship with Nauman collecting a silver medal.

“We have not been given a single penny for that achievement which I think was no small effort by us.”

Officials however say that the case for rewards was put up with the finance ministry who in turn have asked the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to manage it from its own funds.

Brig. Arif Mahmud Siddiqui, the Director General of the PSB told Dawn that they were still pursuing the matter and hopefully something will come out of it.

“Traditionally it is the finance ministry that doles out money for such purposes but now they claim that since PSB’s grant has been enhanced, the rewards should be given by the Board.”

On the other hand Muhammad Nisar complained that a promise of reward of Rs 25,000 made to him by a top KPT official for winning a silver at the Asian Junior Championship in Karachi had not been honoured.

“It is almost one year now but I see no signs of money coming in,” pointed out Nisar who at 19, is the youngest member of the Pakistan’s squad.

However, despite their worries, the boxers remain focussed on the task at hand. “We will continue to put our best foot forward for our country,” they were all unanimous in saying.