Boxers instructed to maintain fitness

Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Col Nasir Tung said the federation has instructed the top boxers to keep themselves in shape during the lockdown.

Nasir said that the federation had also asked its affiliated units to monitor the progress of their boxers. “Yes, coach Arshad Hussain is in contact with the boxers who are on our radar for world qualifying round for Olympics,” he said.

“We have also advised the affiliated units to monitor the progress of their fighters during a lockdown,” Nasir said.

He said that the mainstream boxers, particularly those wanting to flex their muscles in Olympic qualifiers, are training at their homes and are in good shape. “They have the necessary equipment and can keep themselves fit,” Nasir said.

After having failed to impress in the Asian Qualifiers in Jordan in March, national fighters were set to feature in the world qualifiers which had been slated to be held in Paris in the first week of May but had to be postponed due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Nasir said that the PBF is yet to get any update about the rescheduling of the world qualifiers.

“In March we had received an email from the world body asking us to take all precautionary measures regarding fighting against the virus. We had been told that we would be informed when the qualifiers would be rescheduled. So far we have not received any other email,” Nasir said.

Pakistan fielded three boxers in the Asia and Oceania Qualifiers in Jordan but they failed to win any bout.

World qualifiers are even tougher than the continental qualifiers as in most of the weight categories top four will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics which will now be held next year.