KARACHI: Four outsiders created quite a stir when they overcome superior players to make their way into the semi-finals of the all-Pakistan Amir Khan boxing tournament at the Ustad Abdullah Baloch Stadium, Peoples Sports Complex, on Thursday.

At the outset, Daud Khan of the Navy outpointed international Ubaid Ali of the PAF 2-1 to sneak into 49 kg last four.

Another international Ali Mohammad of Wapda who had represented the country at the Asian Games, SAF Games and the Commonwealth Games, fell prey to PAF’s youthful Mehroz Ali who won 3-0 to cruise into 52 kg semis.

Azhar of Gilgit-Baltistan sent international Abi Juzi of the Sindh Police packing 2-1 to reach 91 kg heavy weight last four.

In the last upset, Majid Ali of the Navy joined Azhar in the 91 kg semis after he (Majid) knocked out 35th National Games gold medallist Waseem Arshad in the second round. Waseem had represented the country at the Al Fajr event in Iran this year.

PAF, who had to be content with runners-up slot in the national championship recently, dominated the quarters as their four players stormed into the semis.

They were followed by Sindh Rangers, Navy and Balochistan who shared nine places amongst themselves. Sindh Greens and Gilgit-Baltistan grabbed two places apiece in the semis while Sindh Police, Sindh Whites and Army earned one spot each.

The remaining 20 quarter-final bouts will be held on Friday.

Results:

Quarter-finals:

49kg: Sheraz Kachhi (Sindh Police) bt Essa Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 3-0; Jehanzaib (Sindh Greens) bt Eidullah (Islamabad) 3-0; Daud Khan (Navy) bt Ubaid Ali (PAF) 2-1; Shoaib Murad (Rangers) bt Maaz Khan (KPT) 3-0.

52kg: Faqeer Mohammad (Rangers) bt M. Fraz (Fata) TKO third round; Asif Raza (Navy) bt Fahad Gul (KPT) 3-0; S M Asif (Balochistan) bt Hamid Hussain (Sindh Police) 3-0; Mehroz Ali (PAF) bt Ali Mohammad (Wapda) 3-0.

56kg: Abdul Waheed (PAF) bt Asif Kachhi (Navy) 2-1; Nadir Baloch (Rangers) bt Farhad Khan (Islamabad) TKO first round; Faizan Butt (Sindh Greens) bt Arsalan Ali (Sindh Whites) walkover; Shoaib Khan (Gilgit-Baltistan) bt Shahryar Kachhi (Sindh Police) 2-1.

60kg: Sheraz Baloch (Sindh Whites) bt Dad Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 3-0; Aamir Khan (Navy) bt Abdul Hadi (Balochistan) 2-1.

75kg: Mohammad Imran (Army) bt Saqib Baloch (Rangers) TKO second round; Faisal Khan (Balochistan) bt Javed Akhtar (Sindh Police) 3-0.

81kg: Asmatullah (Balochistan) bt Mohsin Latif (Islamabad) 3-0; Naeem Khan (PAF) bt Tahir Khalil (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 3-0.

91kg: Azhar (Gilgit-Baltistan) bt Abi Jozi (Sindh Police) 2-1; Majid Ali (Navy) bt Waseem Arshad (Army) TKO second round.

Friday’s fixtures:

Bouts start at 2pm.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2015