Haroon Khan has already assured himself a medal in the Commonwealth Games, something the younger brother of WBA world light-welterweight champion Amir Khan would not have had the chance to do if he had not switched his allegiance to Pakistan after being snubbed by England selectors.
Haroon, 19, beat Andrew Selby, of Wales, on a countback after their 52-kg division quarter-final finished at 3-3 yesterday.
"This is what I wanted to do - get a medal and beat a lad from the Britain squad. I've done that and proved them wrong," Haroon said. "It is more important than the medal." Selby had beaten England's Tommy Stubbs in an earlier round, meaning there is no British boxer left in the division. "My job was to come here and prove the selectors wrong and I've done that," Khan said. "I've got a medal at 52kg and the British lad has not got it."
Khan and Selby each scored a point in all three rounds of a bout that failed to produce much fast-pace action. "I thought his [Selby's] technique was good and that is why it was difficult to score," said Haroon, who is using the Commonwealth Games to launch his international career. "I am looking forward to the Asian Games next month and there is always the prospect of the Olympics." Before turning professional, Amir won an Olympic silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games, where he was the only British boxer competing.
Haroon said he hoped his performance in New Delhi for Pakistan, where his father lived until migrating to England in 1970, would send a signal to England selectors. "My message to the selectors is to keep their eyes open because there is so much talent out there in England," he said, before adding that he was looking forward to feedback in his next telephone call with his older brother. Next up is a semi-final against Suranjoy Singh, India's Asian champion, tomorrow.
"I have watched him and know that he is a good boxer. It is going to be a tough round, but as of now, I have reached where I wanted to." Singh, on the other hand, had higher aims after his impressive 9-2 win over Malaysia's Mohammad Subrie. "I will only be happy with a gold medal because being assured of a medal has no meaning to me," said Singh, who showed superb movement and quick counter-attacks in his win.
"I was expecting a closer fight but am prepared to work harder in the coming days in my effort to win gold."
