Haroon (Iqbal) Khan and Muhammad Waseem win again!

[DGMO]

Disappointing he couldn't go all the way, but congrats to the Indian boxer. The experience and stamina so talked about before this match, as well as the performance quite rightly had him as the strong favourite.

Interesting to see where Haroon goes from here. Clearly the set-up within Pakistan isn't the same back in Bolton. I believe he didn't have the services of a physio or nutritionist due to funding issues in Pakistan Boxing, as well as the surrounding set-up he'd have expected had he been in the England camp.

But he needs to kick on and improve. A lot was said about Haroon, lots of hype, being better than Amir etc. He's 19 now, and Amir was winning a silver when he was 17, and that at the Olympics.

He still seems raw, but hope he can get the help and assistance to push on to the next level. This was a much needed experience though, and will hold him in good stead for future battles.

 

[RobbieS]

Disappointing he couldn't go all the way, but congrats to the Indian boxer. The experience and stamina so talked about before this match, as well as the performance quite rightly had him as the strong favourite.

Interesting to see where Haroon goes from here. Clearly the set-up within Pakistan isn't the same back in Bolton. I believe he didn't have the services of a physio or nutritionist due to funding issues in Pakistan Boxing, as well as the surrounding set-up he'd have expected had he been in the England camp.

But he needs to kick on and improve. A lot was said about Haroon, lots of hype, being better than Amir etc. He's 19 now, and Amir was winning a silver when he was 17, and that at the Olympics.

He still seems raw, but hope he can get the help and assistance to push on to the next level. This was a much needed experience though, and will hold him in good stead for future battles.

I think training and expereince will help him go a long way. He needs to train with the best. Unfortunately, that hasnt been easy in the sub-continent. Apart from training stints in Cuba, I dont think Indian boxers have had good training. There was an instance, when Vijender, the Olympic bronze winner was granted a foreign training request 16 months after he requested it and after he had won the medal.

 

[DGMO]

I think training and expereince will help him go a long way. He needs to train with the best. Unfortunately, that hasnt been easy in the sub-continent. Apart from training stints in Cuba, I dont think Indian boxers have had good training. There was an instance, when Vijender, the Olympic bronze winner was granted a foreign training request 16 months after he requested it and after he had won the medal.

There was a good debate on NDTV a couple of days back touching on the culture of sports in Australia, compared to India (and I can throw in Pakistan also). I only caught a few minutes though.

A country of 22 million, yet so much success on the sporting field. Funding is clearly the difference (perhaps the devotion in school curriculum, and after-school activities as well). But if we both had that funding in infrastructure and sports development, we could go a long way, and not just in boxing.

That's a big 'if' though

 

[RobbieS]

There was a good debate on NDTV a couple of days back touching on the culture of sports in Australia, compared to India (and I can throw in Pakistan also). I only caught a few minutes though.

A country of 22 million, yet so much success on the sporting field. Funding is clearly the difference (perhaps the devotion in school curriculum, and after-school activities as well). But if we both had that funding in infrastructure and sports development, we could go a long way, and not just in boxing.

That's a big 'if' though

Yeah. I saw that one. And I particularly liked Dean Jones' comment about crossing hundreds of fields and training grounds on his way home from Melbourne airport. He compared that with his ride from the Delhi Airport. Needless to say, he didnt see one ground. I live in Gurgaon, supposedly India's next Shanghai and there's not one good playing arena. Delhi still has a few govt. run places, but overall, most of them suck.

 

[DGMO]

Yeah. I saw that one. And I particularly liked Dean Jones' comment about crossing hundreds of fields and training grounds on his way home from Melbourne airport. He compared that with his ride from the Delhi Airport. Needless to say, he didnt see one ground.

Yup, I caught him making that point, it was near the beginning of the program. Very pertinent indeed.

I think because of poverty, and need to dedicate so much towards poverty relief, infrasture and development, it's hard to see how much the Govt can fund such sporting ventures and facilities.

Then it's down to the private sector. I take it with the rise of the middle class, there must be an increase in sporting gyms etc, especially around Gurgaon? Although a past time and more of a leisure pursuit, do you see gyms playing a part in translating a leisure pursuit into something more serious? A career pursuit perhaps?

Could be an opportunity where there are Govt-Private initiatives to get people involved in Sport through gyms etc.