On Wednesday, their country’s national Federation said that two Pakistani fighters were missing from Birmingham following the end of the Commonwealth Games. After 12 members of the Sri Lanka squad went missing in Birmingham, it was reported that two Pakistani boxers were also missing following the Commonwealth Games 2022. The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) confirmed Wednesday that two of its female boxers were missing. They were allegedly trying to stay in England and avoid returning to their home country, which is facing a high unemployment rate and inflation.
Boxers Suleman Baloch and Nazeer Ullah were found missing, confirmed Pakistan Boxing Federation secretary Nasir Tang hours before the Pakistan 2022 Commonwealth Games contingent was scheduled to leave for Islamabad. Pakistan’s boxing contingent to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games consisted of five boxers and four officials, but only three pugilists and four returned to Islamabad’s airport. PBF Secretary Nasir Tang told The Press Trust of India that the Pakistani two boxers had walked out hours before the team was scheduled to depart Islamabad. It should be mentioned that at the recently finished Commonwealth Games, light welterweight boxer Suleman Baloch (60-63.5 kg) lost in the Round of 32, while heavyweight boxer Nazeer (86-92 kg) was eliminated in the Round of 16.
The travel documents of both the boxers were with team administration, making the disappearances even more suspicious. PBF secretary Nasir Tang said that British Government and Police were informed of the missing two National Boxers. Tang said that two Pakistani boxers had their documents stored under the standard operating procedure of all athletes travelling from Pakistan. The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has also formed a four-member committee to investigate the matter of the disappeared boxers. “We will not allow these boxers to tarnish the country’s name at any cost. British Police will soon find them,” said POA Secretary General Mohammad Khalid Mahmood.
PBF secretary Nasir Tang stated that the Federation had informed Pakistans High Commission in the UK and other related authorities of the missing. West Midlands police confirmed two members of a delegation from Pakistani games, aged 22 and 25, were reported missing. The disappearance comes just two months after the country’s swimmer Faizan Akbar also went missing while participating in the FINA World Championships in Hungary. Pakistan finished the Commonwealth Games boxing tournament with eight medals but no gold or silver. Pakistan won two gold in the javelin throw and the weightlifting, three silver, and a similar number of bronze medals in the Commonwealth Games.
