ISLAMABAD, Jul 17: The National Cadet (under-16) and Junior (under-19) Boxing Championship will be held at KPT Sports Complex in Karachi from August 12 to 14, it was announced Wednesday.

According to details released by Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation (PABF), bouts will be held in up to eight weights in the cadet class and the contestants will be strictly between 15 and 16 years of age.

The eight weight classes for the cadets category are:39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57 and 60 while the juniors category (16 to 19 years) will comprise seven weight classes:light fly (48 kg), fly (51 kg), bantam (54 kg), feather (57 kg), light (60 kg), light welter (63.5 kg) and welter (67 kg).

The regional and departmental units affiliated with PABF will be eligible to participate in this championship being regularly held since 1996.

Pakistan Army started the cadet boxing scheme for the first time ever when it introduced it in the Army School, Abbottabad, followed by Karachi Port Trust a year later (1995).

KPT also acquired the services of specialist coaches from Cuba, well-versed in training juniors and cadets, in 1995. KPT also allocated monthly stipends to its cadet boxers.

As a result of these efforts by Army and KPT boxing officials, Pakistan won the first International Cadet and Junior Boxing Championship.

The National Cadet and Junior Boxing Championship next month will be played for the PTCL Cup.—APP