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PESHAWAR An undisputed boxing champion of his era, who had joined the list of forgotten sports heroes, was finally rewarded for his service to the country on March 23.
Lal Saeed won countless laurels in his prime but on Tuesday, he received the 'Pride of Performance' award - the highest civilian honour for meritorious services in the field of sports.
Lal Saeed's name was among the eight sportsmen who received the prestigious award. NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani conferred the award during a ceremony at Governor House, Peshawar on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari.
“Today my dream became a reality...I finally received recognition for my services to the sport and the country,” a jubilant Saeed told APP.
“I always hoped that some one, somewhere at the helms of power would acknowledge my services for the promotion of boxing...which would also motivate young players to work hard.”
The only boxer to have emerged from NWFP, Saeed won his first boxing gold medal in 1969 when he clinched the National Boxing Championship in Rawalpindi, a title he made his own for the next seven years. Competing in the light weight category, Saeed also won the Quaid-e-Azam International Boxing Championship and was the undisputed champion of the Inter-services Championship from 1971 to 1976, where he represented Pakistan Navy.
Hailing from the Azakhel village in Nowshera, Saeed started boxing at the age of 14, when he joined a boxing club in his hometown, after which, he never looked back. He ruled the national light weight category for almost nine years. Saeed's performance at the Bangkok Asian Games of 1970 was not at par with other athletes.
“I did not give up and won Asia's biggest title the Hilali Cup in 1971 after defeating Ceylon's boxer Suba Singh.”
Today, Saeed, his wife and three sons can barely make ends meet and the former champion has been waiting for financial help from the Pakistan Sports Board.
“I knocked every door and requested the concerned officials for help but no heed was paid to me but even then I did not give up and continued practicing,” said a teary-eyed Saeed.
Saeed also served Pakistan Navy as physical trainer for 18 years and during his tenure, the Navy boxing team dominated the sport at national level.
The former champion says he wanted to train young boxers and was enrolled by the PSB at Rs.1000 per month.
At present Saeed works as a fruit-vendor at the local furit market, where he earns Rs.200 a day.
“I work from 9.00a.m to 4.00p.m because I am still physically fit and after that, I rush to Qayyum Sports Complex (Peshawar), where I train young boxers for two hours...free of cost.”
Saeed says that boxing is his passion and he will continue training the youth “until his death” despite the lack of recognition from the sports officials. —APP
