Sumama suffers first round exit at Asian Games

Pakistan boxer loses 5-0 to Tajikistan’s Miraj Sufijonov in the 55kg preliminaries

Pakistan had a disappointing start in boxing when their promising fighter Sumama Rahman lost his first fight of the 55 kilogramme weight category to Tajikistan’s Miraj Sufijonov at the 20th Asian Games boxing event at the Nishio Gymnasium on Tuesday.

Lahore-born Sumama fought well against a better boxer before losing 5-0.

“He could have won it but he did not play according to his potential,” coach Tariq Siddiqui told The Express Tribune.

“His opponent was more mature but you know its part of the game,” Tariq said.

This was the first fight from Pakistan in boxing in the Japan event. Maria Rind will face a Mangolian fighter on Thursday.

On September 26 Irfan Khan will meet Gichae Kim of South Korea in the 90kg preliminaries while on the same day Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Fatima Zehra will meet Mijgona Samadova of Tajikistan in the 60kg preliminaries.

Pakistan have fielded two male and two female fighters in the continental event.

Meanwhile Pakistan wushu fighter Aminullah lost to Tam Van Donh of Vietnam in the 56kg quarter-finals.

Saddam Hussain and Zaib Hasnain have already exited.