Coach hails Fatima’s bronze, urges women’s boxing support

Veteran Pakistani boxing coach and former international boxer Arshad Hussain has praised Fatima Zehra for

Veteran Pakistani boxing coach and former international boxer Arshad Hussain has praised Fatima Zehra for securing a rare bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, saying her achievement reflects the untapped potential of Pakistan’s female boxers.

Arshad, who has himself competed at the Commonwealth Games, said winning a medal at the prestigious event was a major accomplishment, particularly in women’s boxing.

Speaking about Fatima’s performance, he said she had to overcome strong international competition and win two bouts to secure the bronze medal. He stressed that athletes competing at the Commonwealth level face opponents from countries against whom Pakistani boxers often have limited experience.

Arshad also called for greater attention to women’s boxing in Pakistan. He said the country has several promising female fighters who could achieve significant success if provided with proper coaching, international exposure and regular training opportunities.

He identified Fatima Zehra, Malaika and Maria among the boxers with considerable potential. According to him, these athletes should be given opportunities to train abroad for several months so they can improve their technical skills and gain valuable international experience.

The veteran coach also expressed disappointment over boxer Qudratullah’s decision to leave Pakistan after participating in the Commonwealth Games. He described him as a talented fighter and questioned the circumstances that led to his disappearance from the national setup.

While assessing the performance of Pakistan’s male boxers at the Games, Arshad said they produced competitive performances but lacked the required technical and physical sharpness. He maintained that better preparation could help them compete more effectively at the international level.

Arshad further highlighted the need for sustained government support for boxing. He recalled Pakistan’s strong history in the sport and argued that short training camps were insufficient to prepare athletes for major international competitions.

He questioned how Pakistan could expect medals when boxers were given only a 20-day camp before the Commonwealth Games, saying even much longer preparation does not guarantee success at that level.

Looking ahead to the Asian Games, Arshad remained cautious about Pakistan’s medal chances. He said the competition would be significantly tougher, with major boxing nations including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Japan, China and the Philippines expected to compete.