Pakistani boxer disappeared after stealing money from teammate's bag in Olympic qualifying event in Italy, the Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation reported on Tuesday, March 5. Zohaib Rasheed traveled to Italy to compete in an Olympic qualifying event. A high-ranking official from the federation disclosed that they have notified the Pakistan Embassy in Italy about the occurrence and have also lodged a police complaint regarding the matter.
Pakistan Boxing Federation expresses embarrassment
“It is most embarrassing for the federation and country the way Zohaib Rasheed has behaved as he had gone there as part of a five-member squad to take part in an Olympic qualifying tournament,” the national federation’s secretary, Colonel Nasir Ahmed said.
Zohaib, who secured a bronze medal at the previous year's Asian Boxing Championships, was considered an emerging star in Pakistani boxing.
Nasir reported that Laura Ikram, a female boxer, was out for training when Zohaib acquired her room keys from the front desk. He then took foreign currency from her purse and vanished from the hotel.
Police in search of Pakistani boxer
“The police have been informed and they are now searching for him but he is not in contact with anyone,” Nasir said.
This isn't the inaugural instance of a Pakistani athlete traveling overseas with a national team and then disappearing, hoping for a brighter future.
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