Amir Khan
Dressed in traditional Saudi Arabian attire, British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan attended the third edition of the Misk Global Forum this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Speaking to the audience at the event, which brings together the nation’s youth to discuss topics pertinent to their future, the 31-year-old former light-welterweight champion, announced his aspirations to open a boxing academy one day in Saudi Arabia.
Amir Khan is live now - and has dressed for the occasion in traditional Saudi Arabian attire, the thobe! Watch the livestream: https://t.co/7Z4vWqZDWA pic.twitter.com/tkdt09j5wE
— Misk Global Forum (@MiskGlobalForum) 14 novembre 2018
Khan explained that in order for the Kingdom to nurture boxers who are capable of becoming Olympic champions, it needs to have academies dedicated to their training and development of athletes. According to Arab News, the former Olympic medalist took the stage at the forum on Wednesday and was interviewed by Lubna Al-Omair, Saudi Arabia’s first female Olympic fencer.
Speaking at the midday session of the forum titled “What Defines Me,” Khan, who already has a foundation dedicated to empowering disadvantaged youth across the globe, said, “I believe that there is so much talent in Saudi, but there aren’t many boxing clubs […] All around the world I build boxing academies, (including in) England, Pakistan […] It is a way to give back and help the less fortunate. We travel all around the world to help the poor, the youth ... in the future they will do the same.”
Boxing legend Amir Khan reveals the lessons his sport has taught him over the years - watch the highlights from #MiskGlobalForum: pic.twitter.com/dPO1nTs68X
— Misk Global Forum (@MiskGlobalForum) 15 novembre 2018
While speaking to the audience, Khan shared how he got into boxing, explaining that when he was young, he was a hyperactive child and was always misbehaving, so his father enrolled him at the boxing club, a sport which helped him control his energy and gave him discipline.
Aside from wanting to help Saudi Arabia train world-class athletes, Khan also explained that boxing is beneficial for youth as it helps develop self-discipline and emotional intelligence, saying, “Boxing teaches you to be disciplined […] [it] teaches you is not to fight outside. If a fight is taking place, I walk away.
