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Waseem Sails Into Boxing Finale Back To Main

Alam Zeb Safi

KARACHI: Pakistan’s star boxer Mohammad Waseem blasted his way into the final, beating Madan Lal from India in the 52kg semifinals of the Second Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing tournament at the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Waseem emerged as the only boxer from the hosts who will fight for the gold as seven other Pakistani pugilists had to content with bronze medals after they were beaten in semifinals of their respective categories.

Mohammad Nisar, Jamal Nasir, Nisar Khan, Ghulam Mustafa, Niamatullah, Nadir Khan and Yasir Javed were those who fell in the semifinals. The pathetic performance from Pakistan, who fielded 34 boxers in the event, should be an eye opener for the authorities.

Waseem, who crushed Senevira from Sri Lanka in the quarter-final on Monday, did not face more problems against Madan Lal in the semifinal and edged the Indian 19-12. “Thanks God, I qualified for the final,” Waseem told The News after his fight. “I did not face much difficulty and am confident to lift gold for Pakistan,” he said.

Waseem will now face Benson Gicharu from Kenya in the final to be held on Thursday (tomorrow). Benson got walkover against Latipovr Jasurbe from Uzbekistan in the semifinal.

By beating Madan Lal, who had outgunned England-born Haroon Khan in the quarter-final on Monday, Waseem proved that he is better than Haroon in the 52kg weight category. The superb show from Waseem must have convinced the authorities that they were wrong when they were compelling the Quetta-born lad to reduce his weight and play in the 49kg in the World Championship held in Baku in September-October this year.

Today (Wednesday) will be the rest day. On Thursday the finals will be held.

Results: Semifinals (49kg): Ariunbold Ganselem (Mongolia) bt Amila Nuwan (Sri Lanka) 16-9, Peter Mungai (Kenya) bt Mohammad Nisar (Pak) 18-8

52kg: Mohammad Waseem (Pak) bt Madan Lal (India) 19-12, Benson Gicharu (Kenya) got walk over against latipovr Jasurbe (Uzbekistan)

56kg: Wessam Slamana (Syria) bt Ghulam Mustafa (Pak) 13-8, Shayimov Orzubek (Uzbekistan) bt Niamatullah (Pak) 22-14

60kg: Ayrin Ismetov (Bulgaria) bt Mohamed Dumairieh (Syria) 13-10, Gaib Nazarov Fazliddin (Uzekistan) bt Joegin Ladon (Philippines) 23-7

64kg: Rahmano Sanjarbek (Uzbekistan) bt Joegin Ladon (Philippines) 23-7, Ambomo Serge (Cameroon) bt Chinzorig (Mongolia) 26-18

69kg: Normatov (Uzbekistan) bt Sahrouz Toradideh (Iran) 14-4, Mamadajnaov Ahmad (Uzbekistan) bt Rayton Okwiri (Kenya) 19-17

75kg: Abdullayev Shuhrat (Uzbekistan) bt Shinebayar Nardiandakh (Mongolia) 23-10, Atoev Abbos (Uzbekistan) bt Jamal Nasir (Pak) 21-3

81kg: Rarulov Elshod (Uzbekistan) bt Nisar Khan (Pak) 14-2 (RSC 2nd round), Manaf Asaad (Syria) Majid Hajabbasi (Iran) 22-17 (RSC 3rd round)

91kg: Tulaganov Rustam (Uzbekistan) bt Yasir Javed (Pak) 30-8, Mohamed Ghossoun (Syria) bt Nadir Khan (Pak) 39-5.