Historical women event in the Pakistan National Championships where Awais Ali Khan delivered superb performance

The Pakistan National Boxing Championships was held in the city of Lahore where thirteen champions have been crowned. Mohibullah Bacha, Syed Muhammad Asif, Suleman Baloch, Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Awais Ali Khan and Mir Waiz Khan are all experienced male boxers in the international stage and won their next national titles in Pakistan.
A historical step was done by the Pakistan Boxing Federation, their first ever Women’s National Championships was held also parallel by the men’s national event in Lahore. Altogether 142 female and male boxers competed for the medals in the Pakistan National Championships.
Pakistan’s Army claimed seven gold medals while WAPDA took three titles in the National Championships in Lahore. Pakistan has been preparing first to the Commonwealth Games which will be taking place in Gold Coast, Australia in April and to where the South Asian country is planning to send their bests.
Pakistan sent women boxers to the South Asian Games to Shillong, India two years ago which was their debut in the female part of the sport. Altogether 17 women boxers attended in the Pakistan Women’s National Championships and the first gold medal was achieved by Razia Bano of Sindh who defeated South Asian Games quarter-finalist Khoushleem Bano of Punjab in the final of the flyweight (51kg).
Punjab’s South Asian Games bronze medallist Rukhsana Perveen secured the second title at the National Championships where she was able to beat Balochistan’s Memona Bibi. Punjab’s second gold medal in the Pakistan Women’s National Championships was acquired by Arzoo Ashraf who was enough strong to beat South Asian Games bronze medallist Sofia Javed of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Following the women part of the National Championships 125 men also attended in Lahore. The South Asian Games silver medallist Mohibullah Bacha won the first gold medal in the men competition who was too smart and tactically strong Navy’s Daud Khan at the light flyweight (49kg). Mohibullah has been preparing hard to get a medal in the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Army’s South Asian Games silver medallist Syed Muhammad Asif was enough experienced to beat a young prospect Ameer Hamza in the final of the flyweight (52kg) and captured the next title in Lahore. Army’s Muhammad Raza defeated Naqeeb Ullah in the final of the bantamweight (56kg) which was first elite national title.
South Asian Games silver medallist Ali Ahmed eliminated Air Force’s Islamic Solidarity Games quarter-finalist Naimat Ullah in the semi-final and continued his winning path against Muhammad Ibrahim in the final of the lightweight (60kg). ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships competitor Suleman Baloch dominated his final against Air Force’s Adnan Hassan and defended his throne at the light welterweight (64kg).
ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and Islamic Solidarity Games competitor Gul Zaib had a well-built game plan against experienced Aamir Khan and won the gold medal of the welterweight (69kg). Army boxer Zulqarnain Mostafa defeated Air Force’s Islamic Solidarity Games quarter-finalist Arshad Hussain and Navy’s South Asian Games silver medallist Tanveer Ahmed and celebrated his well-deserved gold at the middleweight (75kg).
Army’s Awais Ali Khan qualified for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships following his Top6 place at the Tashkent 2017 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. Awais Ali Khan fought for his place in the Commonwealth Games’ squad and delivered top performance against Air Force’s Muhammad Naeem Khan in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg).
Army’s veteran Ahmed Ali eliminated Air Force’s Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Mehmood Ul Hassan and Ghulam Shabbir at the heavyweight (91kg) while ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Mehmood Sanaullah lost his quarter-final bout in Lahore. Mir Waiz Khan was involved to the national team in 2005 therefore he knew how to beat Air Force’s Mirza Azam and Army’s Waqar Ahmed at the super heavyweight (+91kg).

List of the winners in the Pakistan National Championships
Women’s 51kg: Razia Bano
Women’s 60kg: Rukhsana Perveen
Women’s 75kg: Arzoo Ashraf
Men’s 49kg: Mohibullah Bacha
Men’s 52kg: Syed Muhammad Asif
Men’s 56kg: Muhammad Raza
Men’s 60kg: Ali Ahmed
Men’s 64kg: Suleman Baloch
69kg: Gul Zaib
75kg: Zulqarnain Mostafa
81kg: Awais Ali Khan
91kg: Ahmed Ali
+91kg: Mir Waiz Khan