Female boxer Bashir lands scholarship

Local female semi-professional boxer Anisha Bashir has landed gold after being offered a scholarship by Word Boxing Sport (WBS) to study in South Africa where she will also pursue her boxing career.

Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB) president Lonzoe Zimba and Bashir confirmed the development on Tuesday.

Bashir has landed the scholarship after impressing WBS officials during last Sunday’s semi-professional bout against Amarican Jessica Zuzik in Lilongwe.

“It is true that Anisha has been offered a scholarship to study in South Africa and at the same time pursue her boxing career. We had fruitful meetings with officials from WBS who are in the country. In fact, the officials have already met her [Bashir’s] parents to seek their consent. We even met the Minister of Youth Development and Sports [Grace Chiumia] who gave us her blessings,” said Zimba.

“They will pay for her education and also provide her expert trainers to groom her to professional levels. As boxing authorities, we are happy for her and wish her the best. This is great opportunity for her.”

WSA founder Thinus Spretom said he was impressed with how Bashir performed in her fight against Zuzik and believes she has a future in boxing.

“We will be glad to work with her and help her develop as a boxer and also provide for her education,” he said.

The minister also expressed gratitude to WBS for offering Bashir such an opportunity.

“It is a great opportunity for the girl. She dropped out of school while at secondary level because her parents could not afford the education. Now she has been given another chance to pursue her education up to college level. As government, we are very grateful.

“Not only have they supported the girl but they also visited her family and have pledged to assist them also to alleviate some of the problems they are facing,” said Chiumia.

Bashir could not hide her excitement and has since promised to work hard so as to reach greater heights.

“I have never thought that something like this would happen to me. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to chart my path both in boxing and academically. I am very excited and grateful to World Boxing Sport. They have promised to fund my education and everything. I thank God for this chance at life,” said Bashir.

Bashir said she has always dreamt of fighting at top level and this might just be the break she has been waiting for.

New Dawn Boxing Promotions, who have been sponsoring most of Bashir fights in the country, also expressed happiness for her.

“We are glad that finally she has managed to attract such investment. But we are just disappointed in the way the whole issue was handled. As someone who helps these girls, I should have been informed.

We just held there was a party at Golden Peacock with promoters from South Africa and US. As promoters, we felt neglected we could have used such forum to explain our challenges as promoters. But we are happy for her,” said New Dawn director Michael Chimaliza.