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29 March 2024

Haroon owes semifinal spot to champion sibling Amir Khan

Anthony Ogogo (left) of England during his victory against Andrew Kometa of Kiribati in the Middle 75kg category at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium in Delhi. (GETTY)

Published
By AFP
Pakistan boxer Haroon Khan said on Saturday he owed his Commonwealth Games flyweight semifinal spot to his older brother Amir, Britain’s WBA light welterweight champion.
“He tweeted and it’s great the support he’s given me,” Khan said after his victory over Andrew Selby of Wales.
“He said ‘don’t rush in, pace yourself, this is a big thing for you’. I took his advice and it worked. The Indian crowd was unbelievable. I knew when they cheered it was a point for me. It did take a lot of pressure off me.”
The 19-year-old British-born fighter, who chose to represent Pakistan after claiming he had been snubbed by the English boxing authorities, will now clash with Indian Suranjoy Mayengbam who beat Malaysian Mohd Subrie 9-2.
“My job was to come here and prove them (selectors) wrong and I have done that. My aim was to get a medal,” said the teenager, listed as Haroon Iqbal rather than Khan.
“I have seen him (Mayengbam) box before and it’s going to be tough. He is strong and has got great stamina.”
Australia’s hopes of seeing teenage twins Andrew and Jason Moloney grab a medal were shattered when they both lost in the quarter-finals.
Andrew lost to Olympic bronze-medallist Paddy Barnes of Northern Ireland in the light-flyweight, while Jason was beaten by Oteng Oteng of Botswana in the flyweights by an identical 5-3 margin on points.
“It was too close to call,” said Andrew, 19. “I have to watch it again on tape and it’s all a blur at the moment. I am obviously very disappointed.”
The other twins to represent Australia at the Games were cyclists Remo and Sal Sansonetti and cricketers Steve and Mark Waugh.
Namibia’s Sakaria Lukas overcame a stiff resistance from Scotland’s Joseph Ham, prevailing 14-11 in a close bout to move into bantamweight quarter-finals.
“I think he (Ham) performed very well. He just lost it a bit at the end,” said Scotland manager Colin McEwen.
The other bantamweight quarter-finalists were Botswana’s Tirafalo Seoko, Sri Lankan Manju Wanniarachchi, Kenyan Nicholas Okoth, Sean McGoldrick of Wales, Northern Ireland’s Tyrone McCullagh, Indian Akhil Kumar and Louis Julie of Mauritius.
“I boxed well,” said England’s Iain Weaver after losing 11-6 on points to India’s Akhil Kumar.
“It was 11-6 to me, not to him. I was totally stitched up. I don’t care what the Indians say. You can’t beat an Indian here.”
European champion Barnes will now take on Indian Amandeep Singh, who outpointed Malaysian Muhammad Fuad in the other light-flyweight quarter-final.
Defending champion Jafet Uutoni of Namibia advanced to the light-flyweight semi-finals, accounting for Jason Lavigilante of Mauritius 5-0 on points.
He will clash with Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem, who got the better of Duke Micah of Ghana.
“I am now ready to defend the title. I am ready to take back the medal to Namibia,” said Uutoni.