May 5, 2005	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1426

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LAHORE, May 4: The Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) has appointed Tariq Farooq, an Austria-based Pakistani, national coach for a term of three months starting from June 1st to Sept 30th, PBF secretary Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhari said on Wednesday. A former national player of 80s, Mr Tariq is last year’s World champion of 45 year age category. He has passed International Badminton Federation courses and has been coaching in Austria for last eight years, he said.

Amir said Mr Tariq would receive US$2,000 a month. Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) will give $1,500 while the rest will be borne by the federation. The coach’s first assignment is the preparation of national women team for the Islamic Games for Women to be held in Iran in September this year, he said adding his (coach’s) contract might be extended up to next year’s 10th SAF Games in Sri Lanka.

Eight girls will attend the camp which starts at Islamabad from June 1. Amir said that a two-member men and women team would take part in the Nepal Asian Satellite tournament to be held in Kathmandu from June 7 to 11.

National champion Wajid Ali and Ahsan Qamar are in the men’s team while Ayesha Akram and Sara Khan make up the women’s side. The PBF, he said, had confirmed its participation in the Asian seniors championships, which would be organised in Hyderabad, India from Sept 20 to 23.

Pakistan would also field a six-member team in India Satellite tournament to be staged in New Delhi from Oct 20 to 24. Moreover, three umpires, two men and a woman, would attend a course to be organised by the Asian Badminton Federation in Jakarta, Indonesia from July 10 to 17. The course would make them eligible for conducting international tournaments, he said. The umpires are Nadeem Ishaq, Rafiq Baber and Mrs Zareena Waqar.