LAHORE, Aug 8: The Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) has urged the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to take notice of the excellent performance of Wajid Ali and Omer Zeeshan and honour them with cash prizes. PBF secretary Aamer Hayat Khan Rokri said that both Wajid and Omer had improved the international ranking in the doubles to 140. Wajid, he said also ranked 135 in men’s singles.

He said that three years back no Pakistani player figured in first 500 of the world ranking. The secretary urged both the parent bodies of the sports to encourage badminton players as players of the other federations with less performance had been given handsome cash prizes by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

He disclosed that besides Wajid and Omer, another pair, Muhammad Waqas Ahmed and Tahir Ishaq had qualified for the World badminton championship being held in California, USA from Aug 15 to 21. Meanwhile, the US Embassy has called Wajid and Omer to start the process of issuing visa to them. Both the players left for Islamabad in the afternoon.

Waqas Ahmed hopefully will be called by the embassy later. Tahir Ishaq has a multiple visa of USA and is currently playing in Canada. If Waqas also gets visa, Tahir will reach USA to appear in the world mega event for the first time. The PBF had applied for the visa about one month ago.