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Shifting to Hostels Annoys Boxers Back To Main

Abdul Mohishah

ISLAMABAD: As the much-awaited Second Benazir Bhutto International Boxing kicked off at the Liaquat Gymnasium on Thursday, boxers and officials turning up here from across the globe were upset by the federation’s decision to deprive them of five-star boarding and lodging. 

In a sudden change of mind, Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) shifted members of almost all the visiting teams from five-star hotel rooms to the trying conditions of hostels at the Pakistan Sports Complex. Players and officials from Slovenia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and some African teams expressed their annoyance.

“Following a day’s tough training we need good boarding and lodging. We were having a good rest at hotel here in Islamabad when organisers suddenly shifted us to complex hostels in Islamabad. This will disturb our preparations for the event as these hostels lack proper facilities,” said one of the Slovenian coaching staff members.

Same were the views of other team officials who complained that they came here after spending huge amount on their tickets. “Travelling expenses of each of the team member is more than 2500 Euros. We were expecting a better treatment, but sadly that did not turn out to be the case,” said a Slovenian team member.

Though an insider confirmed to The News that the low budget and federation’s inability to generate funds for the event was the main reason for the shift, Doda Bhutto, president PBF, tried to justify it.

“The teams have been shifted to PSB hostels because of security reasons. There were threats and we do not want teams travelling from the hotel all day long. Now all the players can even walk to their rooms at the end of training and competitions.”

Sri Lankan team manger Wasantha was very bitter. He said that three boxers were asked to stay in one room of the hostel, having no basic facilities. “We were promised five-star hotel facilities and that’s why we came here. The organisers should have done their homework. We cannot even find warm water and proper things to eat. Our boxers cannot digest oily stuff,” he complained.

The opening ceremony of the event was also marred by mismanagement with no one exactly knowing what to do. The lack of proper rehearsal, absence of committees to look after each of the segment was said to be the cause of total confusion.

Only 15 teams, including four local, participated in the march. Absence of national flags ahead of a few teams created confusion.

The turnout was low as the organisers had set Rs600 ticket for spectators to come to gymnasium. Although the event is being organised after the name of Benazir Bhutto, the prime minister who was murdered on December 27, 2007, not a single PPP government minister turned up for the opening ceremony, which forced the organisers to look for a readymade chief guest in Director General Pakistan Sports Board Amir Hamza Gilani.