Dubai: Yaqoob Hussain, a England-based boxing coach of Pakistan origin, will the Pakistan pugilists for the Incheon Asian Games to be held next month.

Speaking to The News newspaper, Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain said: “Yaqoob will land here in the next few days. He is a level-IV coach and will train our boxers for 15 days. Yaqoob is coming to Pakistan on his own expenses. He is a close friend of the father of England’s star boxer Amir Khan and has been running a boxing gym in England for 38 years.”

PBF also plans to get the services of a psychiatrist for the boxers. “I am trying to contact Pakistan’s renowned psychiatrist Dr Ishaq Sarhandi but his cell phone is off. If he is not available we will seek some other doctor and hopefully we will be able to hire the services of the expert for two weeks so that the boxers could be mentally prepared for the tough assignment,” Iqbal added.

National pugilists have been undergoing training here at the PSB’s Coaching Centre, Karachi, for the last few days under coaches Ali Bakhsh and Tariq Siddiqui. As many as 17 boxers have so far joined the camp, according to the newspaper.

Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallist Mohammad Waseem has also reported for the camp, which is being supported by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). Pakistan will be fielding six boxers in the Asian Games, which will run from September 19 to October 4.

The boxers are Mohammad Waseem, Nadir Baloch, Mohibullah, Ali Ahmad, Amir Khan and Sanaullah. Only one change has been made in the squad that featured in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Quetta-born Sanaullah has replaced Asif Hassan who failed to live up to the expectations in the 69 kilogramme competitions.

Meanwhile, India women’s football national team coach Tarun Roy named a 22-member squad for the exposure tour to China ahead of the Games. The initial list of 31 players has been trimmed to 22 for the 15-day exposure tour from August 25 till September 9. They will travel to Incheon in South Korea directly from China.

The two-time SAFF champions are expected to play three practice matches against the top teams of the Chinese women’s Super League — Jiangsu Huatai and Shanghai SVT.

The teams are currently placed second and third respectively in the league table. Either of the two teams will play India twice.

The tentative dates of the three matches are August 29, September 2/3 and September 5/6.

Meanwhile, in the Incheon Asian Games India are in Group A along with the last Games’ bronze medallists South Korea, Thailand and Maldives.

India women last played in the Games back in 1998 where they failed to qualify from their group. This will only be their second appearance.