Pakistan Army clinches 15 golds at National Boxing Championship
Karachi
The 41st National Elite Men’s and 5th Women’s National Boxing Championship ended with a clear lead for Pakistan Army. Pakistan Army won eight gold medals in men’s and seven in women’s events. Pakistan Navy won two gold medals in men’s events while Punjab won one gold medal in women’s events.
In total, Pakistan Army won the general trophy of the National Boxing Championship with 15 gold medals. Pakistan Navy came second in men’s events and WAPDA came third, while Punjab came second in women’s events and WAPDA came third. Fatima Zainab of Pakistan Army in women’s and Muhammad Afzal of Pakistan Navy in men’s were declared the best boxers of the championship.
The special guest was Commander Five Corps Lieutenant General Muhammad Owais Dastgir Hilal-Imtiaz Military, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, who distributed trophies to the winning and runner-up teams and medals to the boxers. KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Habib-ur-Rehman Hilal-Imtiaz Military was the guest of honour at the closing ceremony. On this occasion, Pakistan Boxing Federation President Colonel (R) Nasir Ijaz Tung, Secretary General Major Irfan Younis, General Secretary Pakistan Olympic Association Khalid Mahmood, KPT Manager Sports Major (R) Mahmood Riaz, Secretary Sindh Olympic Association Ahmed Ali Rajput, Chairman Referee and Judges Younis Pathan, Wasim Hashmi, KPT Sports Officer Narmina Ali and others were also present.
Special guest Commander Five Corps Lieutenant General Muhammad Owais Dastgir Hilal-Imtiaz Military, Sitara-e-Imtiaz said that I have an old relationship with boxing. I used to watch the fights of the great boxer Muhammad Ali with great interest in my childhood. Muhammad Ali’s fame I have also listened his song the most. Boxing is also my first passion.
This sport teaches you a lot, including agility, mental strength, physical exertion and excellent footwork. I saw Hussain Shah win in the Olympics, then Asghar Ali and other boys. Balochistan and other areas have raised the knowledge of Pakistani boxing, which is welcome. I personally think that all women in Pakistan should also learn boxing. I am very impressed by the girls who have done boxing fights here. The Pakistan Army will continue its efforts and cooperation for the promotion of boxing in Pakistan. I congratulate the Pakistan Boxing Federation for organizing a successful championship and declare the end of the National Boxing Championship.
In the women’s 57kg category, in the final of the last day’s competitions, Fatima Zahra of the Army defeated Bushra Akhtar of the Pakistan Air Force, and in the women’s 51kg category, Maria Rind of the Army defeated Navy’s Maryam,women 60 kg Punjab’s Lara Akram defeated Army’s Mehreen Baloch.
In the men’s 65kg final, Navy’s Afzal Khan defeated Army’s Abrar Ali, in the men’s 80kg final, Army’s Ehsanullah defeated Wapda’s Amir Khan, in the 85kg final, Navy’s Tanveer Ahmed defeated Army’s Zeeshan Ali, in the 55kg final, Army’s Qudratullah defeated Balochistan’s Shoaib, and in the 50kg final, Army’s Muhammad Fahim defeated Balochistan’s Asghar Ali to win gold medals. More than 250 male and female boxers from 14 teams participated in the championship.
