India will send team for intl boxing event in Pakistan: Bhutto

Press Trust Of India
Karachi, December 14, 2009
First Published: 22:13 IST(14/12/2009)
Last Updated: 22:14 IST(14/12/2009)


Karachi:The Pakistan Boxing Federation on Monday said that India have confirmed their participation in an international tournament scheduled to be held in memory of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto here from January 1-9.

The President of the federation, Doda Khan Bhutto told a media conference on Monday that 120 boxers and 60 officials from 20 countries would be taking part in 11 weight categories in the event and India have also confirmed it would be sending its boxers for the event.

"We have also got confirmations from China, Afghanistan, Hungary, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cameron, Ghana, UAE, Yemen, Bangladesh, Iraq, Kenya, Mongolia, Singapore, Syria, Kazakhistan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Nepal, Chinese's Taipei, Palestine and Jordan," Bhutto said.

He said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani has been invited to open the tournament while President Asif Zardari was invited for the closing ceremony.

"We are hopeful that it would be a big success with the line up we have and the main purpose of holding this event is to pay tribute to a great leader and also present a soft image of Pakistan internationally," he said.

The PBF President said the tournament had the approval of the world body.

Doda Khan Bhutto said the organisers had asked for funds from the government and these were still awaited.

"But the Prime Minister has assured us and given orders for the funds to be released soon," he added.

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