LAHORE, Feb 16: Pakistan Taekwondo Federation on Wednesday announced the names of 12 female martial art players to attend a training camp for the build up of the first Islamic Solidarity Women Games to be held in September in Teheran.

"Players were retained following one day trials which concluded here on Wednesday at Wapda Sports Complex and were participated by 25 players from all affiliated units of the PTF, said Iftikhar Ahmad Tabassum, President, PTF, while talking to APP.

He said a selection committee comprising two South Korean coaches, Masters Seo and Won and Waseem Butt watch the players in action. "The selection was fair and simple based on the performance of the players and for us the most satisfactory aspect was the presence of the Korean coaches who are ultimate authority in the game", said PTF Chief.

Following were selected:- (Fin weight) Kiran Bano (Army), Maryam Asghar (Sindh), Sumeera Fayyaz (Punjab). (Flyweight) Waqas un Nisa (Army), Saima Naz (Wapda), Samara Imdad (Wapda). (Bantamweight) Zareen (Army), Bushara Shah (Sindh). (Featherweight), Kalsoom Asghar (Wapda), Abida (Wapda). (Heavyweight) Mahnaz Khan (Punjab), Anjum Khan (sindh).

Two reserves players were also named, they are Maha Irfan and Madiha Mazhar. PTF Chief said the selected players will start the first phase of the training from February 28 at Islamabad under the watchful eyes of the Korean coaches who are also imparting training to the male players for the Islamic Solidarity Men Games to be held in Saudi Arabia in April.

"It would be a long camp of six months and objective of starting the camp much before the event is to prepare our female players on solid lines and to gain encouraging results", he said adding "it would be first ever participation of our female players in an international meet and we want to launch our campaign in a productive manner".

Tabassum said PTF is considering to send a full-fledged eight member team to take part in all body weight categories and trials for the selection of the final squad will be held in July.

"Coaches will be maintaining daily performance record of each player and it would help in knowing the individual strength and potential of every player helping the selectors to pick the best among the lot," he concluded. -APP