Khan serves up humble pie to selectors as medal beckons
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Your support makes all the difference.There are still two months to go before Amir Khan defends his WBA light welterweight title against Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas, but the Bolton boxer has been throwing some handy jabs on behalf of his kid brother. Overlooked for Commonwealth Games selection by England, Haroon Khan has fought his way into the medals representing Pakistan in the 52kg light heavyweight division.
On Saturday night, the 19-year-old emerged victorious from the quarter-finals, beating Welshman Andrew Selby on countback after a 3-3 draw. Today, he fights for a place in the final at the Talkatora Stadium. His semi-final opponent is the favourite for gold, India's Suranjoy Mayengbam.
Whatever the outcome, however, the younger Khan is guaranteed at least a bronze medal. And that, according to his big brother, represents something of a two-fingered salute to the England selectors.
From his training camp in the Philippines, Amir – or AmirKingKhan, as he identifies himself – could not help crowing on his Twitter account : "I hope england selectors wake up now and the people above realise the selectors aint doing there job right [sic]. With all the lottery funding they get where is it being spent? This is the reason young fighters like haroon are walking away to join the pro game.
"Believe it or not, the pakistan team dnt even have a physio, nutritionist due to costs, and look @ us abusing and wasting the lottery funding when fighters are not treated fair. Its all a waste [sic].
"I'm happy regardless if @harrykingkhan [Haroon] wins the Gold medal. I just wanted him to prove to the England selectors they should of picked him. Haroon had no lottery funding, no international experience, camps or training. Raw talent."
England's choice in the division, Tommy Stubbs, had been beaten in the previous round by Selby. However, Rob McCracken, the Great Britain head coach who is in charge of the England team in Delhi, maintained: "It doesn't prove anything. Khalid Yafai is the No 1 flyweight in England and he isn't here."
The elder Khan brother responded with a counter-tweet: "GB cheef Rob McCracken: (Harrys win) "dosnt prove anything.".... Well it proves 1 thing bob u can't select a good team. Haha."
Haroon himself tweeted: "That mcracken or what ever his name is needs pull his finger out never seen this guy but ad love to see him and just abuse him."
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