Unable to attend the 16th edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku due to political tension in the country, Syria will look to make amends by challenging for honours at the upcoming Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Memorial in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Syria will be sending eight of the best and toughest boxers to the tournament with at the team's helm leading Coach Khaled Al-Falah, himself a 1996 Olympian.

Syria's top ranked boxer, 22-year-old Asian Games winner Mohammad Ghossoun is one of the strongest Heavyweight boxers in the world. He secured a gold medal at the Asian Championships in Incheon and at the World Military Games in Rio de Janeiro. He was defeated by reigning AIBA World Champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine by accepted scores at the Nurmagambetov Tournament in Kazakhstan in May, in what was his only defeat of the year. He is considered by far the favourite for honours in Islamabad.

Mohammad's elder brother, 25-year-old Asian Championships silver medallist Sumar Ghossoun is back on track following a short break after his unsuccessful 2010 Asian Games. Syria's No.1 Super Heavyweight was a silver medallist at the first edition of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Memorial Tournament and will be travelling focused only on taking gold.

Asian Games bronze medallist Wessam Salamana also secured a silver medal at the last edition of this competition and his target is also top spot this year. The 26-year-old Bantamweight fighter has got more than enough international experience to come first in Pakistan.

Former Arab Champion, Lightweight athlete Mohamed Doumerieh has just returned to the ring following an extended break from boxing as he looks to try and qualify to the London Olympic Games. His younger brother Marwan is also involved with the Syrian team and will be competing in the Flyweight division.

Current Arab Champion and Pan Arab Military Games winner Abdelmouen Aziz has got medal aspirations in the Welterweight class in Islamabad while Syria's Light Heavyweight Utemisov Tournament silver medallist Manaf Assad who at only 20 years of age has already competed in several international tournaments is another looking to make his mark.

The youngest team member is 17-year-old current Syrian Youth National Champion Ahmad Al-Mawaldi who will be fighting in the Middleweight category. Although an absolute newcomer to the elite team, there are already huge expectations placed on the explosive youngster, who makes his international debut in Islamabad.

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