LAHORE: The 36th National Men and the 1st National Women Boxing Championships started at WAPDA Sports Complex here on Friday. The championships are being held under the auspices of WAPDA Sports Board in association with the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF). Pakistan Olympic Association President Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hassan and WAPDA Chairman and WAPDA Sports Board Patron-in-Chief Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain were the chief guests at the opening ceremony. Speaking to the participants of the opening ceremony at WAPDA Sports Complex, WAPDA Chairman said that sports persons were pride of the nation who brought laurels to the country. “Sports alone can be the catalyst and the tool to overcome our national issues ranging from terrorism, illiteracy to fragile economy and can be a source of national harmony.” In the five-day long championships, as many as 15 teams are participating in the men’s events — WAPDA, Army, Navy, Air Force, Railways, KPT, K-Electric, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, AJ&K, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan. Men’s competitions will be held in 10 weight categories which are 46, 52, 56, 60, 64, 69, 75, 81, 91 and 91+ kilogramme. With a view to popularize boxing amongst women folk, the women’s championship is being organised for the first time, wherein as many as 24 women players from the provinces and associations will compete in three weight categories of 51, 60 and 75kilogrammes. Published in Daily Times, January 21st 2018.