Mr. Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim – Boxing School Education Program is our strategy in Qatar

Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim

Mr. Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim is not only the President of the Qatar Boxing Federation but he is the Vice-President of the Asian Boxing Confederation who is very active in the international boxing events. Mr. Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim presented medals also in the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Qatar Boxing Federation hosted the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Doha in October 2015and two of their boxers qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Western Asian country has got great plans in the new Olympic era as well. Qatar sent boxers to the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships to Bangkok at the very first time which was a historical step in their road to the development. Mr. Youssuf Ali Al-Kazim replied our questions about Qatar’s boxing life, background and possibilities for the future in our sport.

– Could you please introduce your country’s boxing life?
– Boxing was introduced in Qatar in the early ‘70s and it was practiced in the Army and Police sport clubs around the capital city of Doha. A few years later the first edition of the Qatari National Boxing Championships was held in 1974. Qatar’s first ever appearance in the international level was in taking place 1984 when the first Arab Police Boxing Championships was held in Iraq.
Qatar Boxing Federation was established in June 13, 1998 and in the same year our organization was officially affiliated by AIBA and ASBC. Qatar hosted the Arab Youth Championships in 2003, the Asian Games in 2006, the Arab Games in 2011, the Doha International Tournament and the AIBA World Boxing Championships in 2015.

– Would you like to tell us your strategic plans for the future and the key developments in your country?
– In order to increase its sport popularity and awareness among the local society Qatar Boxing Federation launched its “Development through sports”. Our Federation introduced a variety of boxing promotion targeting different age groups in the local population. We are offering opportunities to come closer to boxing, learn about it and practice it with the Qatar Boxing Federation’s facilities.
Our Boxing School Education Program are targeting the school’s students, providing to them information about boxing, its rules and the easier way to learn it. Additionally boxing competitions amongst schools are taking place on a yearly basis, in order for talented kids to de identified and enrolled to boxing clubs’ programs.
Our strategy is based on the following points:
1. Boxing expansion
2. Training and qualification (athletes, R&Js and officials)
3. Organizing international competitions in Qatar
4. ASBC and AIBA memberships

– What are the main strengths and issues in your boxing life?
– Qatar National Olympic Committee is working closely with our Qatar Boxing Federation to promote boxing in the country, develop our athletes and ideas around our sport which is a great strength. Our weaknesses consists of the limited number of population and the possibilities for the young people who practice different sports and prefer football which is the most popular in Qatar.