KARACHI: While Pakistan had a horrible day as all six local pugilists crashed out including medal hope Nadir Khan, China emerged strong contenders with four of their boxers reaching the Benazir Bhutto international boxing finals at KPT Sports Complex on Tuesday.
The biggest disappointment in the Pakistan camp was the loss of middleweight Nadir of Pakistan Whites who was ousted 3-2 by Syrian Moutafa Fara after a tough battle.
In a neck-and-neck fight, the Fara started his campaign with some good shots and the led the opening round 1-0. Nadir came out against his tough rival with full force in the second round, throwing good jabs to end with score tied at 1-1.
The third round once again saw a ferocious fight as both were at their best, but as the round again finished at 1-1, the Syrian emerged winner.
Pakistan performed miserably in the heavier weights as light-heavyweight Mohammad Ali, heavyweights Yasir Javed and Imran Shah fail to cross their first hurdle in the tournament. All the three boxers had been directly placed into the semi-finals after receiving byes.
Mohammad Ali of Pakistan Whites was stopped in the first round by Imke Szello of Hungary after receiving a head injury, while Yasir of Pakistan Greens was a 4-2 loser against Chinese Xuan Bao.
Imran of Pakistan Whites proved no match against his Iraqi opponent Musatafa Mohammad who was declared a 6-1 winner, while welterweight Zakir Hussain, also from Pakistan Whites, was saved by his coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan who threw in the towel in the third round against Mulema Joseph of Cameroon.
Super-heavyweight Waqar Ahmed of Pakistan Whites was sent packing by Heshuai Li of China after a 4-0 defeat.
Another Chinese Sile Hu also stormed into finals after he stopped Aung Ko Ko of Myanmar in he second round of the middleweight fight.
The two Indian boxers also crashed out of the event when Parnoj Kumar was thrashed by China’s Fanlong Meng 5-2 in the light-heavyweight, while Naresh was beaten 4-1 by Syria’s Ghson Ahmad in the super-heavyweight category.
Six more Pakistanis will be battling for final spot on Wednesday. Light-flyweight Nadir Baloch of Pakistan Greens will battle against Hassan Ali Shakir of Iraq, while Mohib Bacha of Pakistan Whites faces Mahmudov Alisher of Uzbekistan.
In flyweight semi-finals, Abdul Waheed of Pakistan Whites will clash with Niamogui Songlnekani of Central African Republic, and Mohammed Waseem of Pakistan Greens meets Anan Pongkhet of Thailand.
Pakistan Whites’ Nawaz Dad will tackle Ibrahim Sanda of Syria in the lightweight semi-finals, while Adnan Hussain of Pakistan Greens faces Hanggai Bayin of China in the same category.
Results (semi-finals):
Welterweight: Ahmed B. Jassem (Iraq) bt Selebangue Welcome (Central African Republic) 3-0; Mulema Joseph (Cameroon) bt Zakir Hussain (Pakistan Whites) bt (retired/III).
Middleweight: Sile Hu (China) bt Aung Ko Ko (Myanmar) RSC/injury/II; Moutafa Fara (Syria) bt Nadir Khan (Pakistan Whites) 3-2.
Light-heavyweight: Imke Szello (Hungary) bt Mohammad Ali (Pakistan Whites) RSC/H/I; Fanlong Meng (China) bt Parnoj Kumar (India) 5-2.
Heavyweight: Xuan Bao (China) bt Yasir Javed (Pakistan Greens) -2; Mustafa Mohammad (Iraq) bt Imran Shah (Pakistan Whites) 6-1.
Super-heavyweight: Heshuai Li (China) bt Waqar Ahmed (Pakistan Whites) 4-0; Ghson Ahmad (Syri) bt Naresh (India) 4-1.
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