ISLAMABAD, April 24: Four pugilists have been selected to represent Pakistan at an international boxing competition in China next month, it was officially learnt on Thursday.

The Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation (PABF) has given approval to the names of these four who were picked on the recommendation of national coach Renaldo Alvarez of Cuba for the May 17-21 competition.

Asian Games gold-medallist Meherullah in the 67 kg class is one of the boxers given the nod for the competition in the Chinese city of Changsha. The others are Asghar Ali (64 kg), Ahmed Ali (75 kg) and Noman Karim (48 kg).

The quartet is undergoing training, alongwith others, under the supervision of Alvarez.

The PABF President, Prof. Anwar Chaudhary, who is also the chief of International Boxing Federation, was in the Federal Capital on Wednesday, as well to receive the highest civil award of Morocco as to expedite the delivery of the grant to PABF.

The ambassador of Morocco, Ahmad Al Raidi, decorated the octogenarian Prof. Anwar Chaudhary with the award bestowed upon him by King Mohamed VI of Morocco.

“We currently have no funds with us”, says a spokesman of PABF which will also be unable to send its team to World Cadet and Junior Championship at Bucharest (Romania) in June, alongwith skipping the Chinese competition, should the Presidential grant be delayed.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf had announced the grant to PABF when its delegation, led by Prof Anwar Chaudhary, called on the head of the state soon after Pakistani boxers had won a gold medal and quite a few silver and bronze medals at the 15th Asian Games at Busan (South Korea) in October last year.

“The file for release of grant is with Finance Ministry right now”, said Director General of Pakistan Sports Board, Brig. Saulat Abbas.—APP