Govt announces Rs 30 million grant for Pakistani boxing champion Waseem

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday announced Rs 30 million in grant for World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight champion Muhammad Waseem.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the grant for Waseem, who is Pakistan’s only professional boxer.

The grant amount will be spent on Waseem’s training plan, said DG Pakistan Sports Board Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera.

The sports board will work with the boxer to prepare a training and tour plan, he added and assured that Waseem will be provided with all possible support.

The Quetta-born Waseem, who is also known as Falcon Khan, successfully defended his WBC Silver Flyweight championship title in November by defeating Philippines’ Giemel Magramo at Millennium Hilton in Seoul, South Korea.

The 29-year old Pakistani boxer outplayed his much-experienced opponent in an exciting 12-round bout with a 3-0 unanimous decision, which also made Magramo taste his first defeat after 17 consecutive wins. 

Waseem had won WBC Silver Flyweight title in July by defeating Philippines’ Jether Olivia.