Interview with the Syrian team in Pavlodar

DSC_2636 - Syrian head coach - 1963x1300

Syria’s commitment to boxing is a good exemplar

Syria is competing in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan where their commitment to boxing is a good exemplar for all of the countries not only in Asia but in the world. Their youth team contains now three boxers who travelled more than 4,000 km to compete in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar in spite of the serious political crisis which is affecting the country since 2011.

“Our current political and economic situation is really bad in Syria as we have got Civil War at home since many years. We are trying to prepare to the competitions with our best knowledge but we could not take place all of our competitions and training sessions in the country during the war.
The training is some sometimes hard not only in Damascus but mainly in the other regions of the country especially in Aleppo, in Hama and in Latakia. Despite of these situations we hosted the Junior National Championships this year and last year we had competitions for the elite, youth and junior age groups as well.
We have been there in the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event in Qian’an and we were near to get an Olympic quote for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Our team took part also in the Issatai Taimanov & Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament in Atyrau last week where we achieved two gold, one silver and one bronze medal and all of our four boxers could stand in the podium during the medal ceremonies.
Three boxers from our youth team is here in Pavlodar with one coach and one R&J who is AIBA 2-stars. We are not expecting big results or medals in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar, our goal is to show Syria is still on the boxing map and fight in the highest level of boxing competitions.
We are trying to be an active national federation in the Asian Boxing Confederation in spite of the crisis in our country and thanks for all supports from Pavlodar,”

said Syrian coach Mr. Mohamed Alqazaq and the Syrian Supervisor of the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar Mr. Mohamed Kamel Shbib.