Source: www.guardian.co.tt by Clayton Clarke.

T&T boxer Tariq Abdul Haqq qualified for the gold medal bout in the men’s super-heavyweight (+91kg) at the 19th Commonwealth Games at the Talkatora indoor Stadium, yesterday. Abdul Haqq, who won a bronze medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games earlier this year, out-punched Blaise Yepmou of the Cameroon by seven points to five in the semifinals.

The former St Mary’s College student will have to overcome home-town fighter Paramjeet Samota in a bid to win the gold medal today. Abdul Haqq is seeking to become T&T’s first Commonwealth gold medalist since 1998 when Ato Boldon sped to the men’s 100m title in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia. He is the second national super-heavyweight boxer to qualify for the gold medal round after Kerston Manswell did in Manchester, England, eight years ago.

Abdul Haqq is hoping to do one better than Manswell who picked up the silver in 2002. The gold medal match is set for tomorrow at 7 pm (India)/10.30 am (T&T).