ISLAMABAD A six member badminton squad left for Tehran, Iran on Wednesday to represent Pakistan in the Fajr International Badminton Tournament starting on Thursday.

The Pakistani squad will be represented by four boys and two girls in the four-day event in Iran.

The selected players include, Wajid Ali, Mohammed Waqas Ahmad, Mohammed Attique, Rizwan Azam, Ayesha Akram and Sara Khan.

As many as 16 countries are participating in this World Ranking Tournament. This is the seventh time Pakistan is competing in the event.

Pakistani players have given good account of themselves in the past editions of this tournament with Wajid Ali winning the Gold Medal in Mens singles in 2006 while a others have managed to reach the semi finals in Mens Singles and Doubles.

Aamer Hayat Khan Rokhri, secretary general Pakistan Badminton Federation, claimed the Pakistan team has the potential to win the championship.

He said the Pakistani Doubles pair of Rizwan Azam and Attique Chaudhry have the perfect opportunity to qualify for the World Championship 2009, should they win the title.

Rokhri also said that National Badminton Academy would start operating by the end of the month in Punjab and later Academies would be established at Provincial capitals also.

In the month of March, a tri-Nation series between Sri Lanka, Iran and Pakistan will also be held. The correspondence with Sri Lanka and Iran is already in process, he said.