ATHENS, Aug13: Pakistan will be opening its campaign in the Athens Olympic by taking part in the boxing competition, which commences here on Saturday.

Out of five member boxing team Ahmad Ali will be first boxer exchanging punches with his rival in the 75 kg bout and with his bout Pakistan makes its official participation in the 17-day Games.

According to the programme made available of 26-member Pakistan contingent taking part in the Olympic Games, Faisal Karim will be appearing in 64 kgs bout on Aug 15, Sohail in 57 kgs on Aug 16, Asghar in 60kgs on Aug 16 and Meharullah, in 54 kgs on Aug 17.

Pakistan's next participation is in hockey playing Germany on Aug 15, Egypt on Aug 17, South Korea on Aug 19, Spain on Aug 21 and England on Aug 23. Mumtaz Ahmad and young Rubaba Raza will be featuring in the swimming competition on Aug 28 and Aug 20. The lone shooter Khurram Inam will try his luck in Skeet event on Aug 21.

Athletes Muhammad Sajid and Sumera Zahoor will be running in heats of on Aug 20 and Aug 24 and it would signal the end of participation of Pakistan in Athens if it failed to qualify for the semifinals of the hockey.

Meanwhile, Minister for Sports and Tourism Rais Munir Ahmed has appreciated the efforts of Pakistani officials for uplifting the image of the country in sports during the Athens Olympics and prayed for success.

He stated this during the meetings with the officials of the Pakistani Olympic Contingent here Wednesday.

The minister visited Olympic village along with parliamentary secretary and Nazims of the Punjab province. Minister for Sports also attended a reception held in the honour of the Sports Minister of the Commonwealth countries at the British Embassy. -APP