LAHORE, Oct 16: Rizwan Azam and Mohammad Attique entered the final of the men’s doubles in Syrian International Badminton Series in Damascus Syria, according to a message received on Thursday.

Rizwan and Attique qualified for the final after first defeating Syrians Mahmoud Darweesh-Saleh Zahra of 21-11, 21-13 in the quarter-final follwed by a win in the semi-final against the top Syrian pair of Mohammad Alkhleef-Tareq Amam in straight sets 21-12, 21-14. If the pair win the final too, their world ranking will rise to No 50.

In the mixed doubles Aisha Akram-Attique also moved into the last four, defeating Sonya Barakat-Moahmmad Alkhleef of Syria in straight sets 21-13 , 21-15.

National champion, Wajid Ali’s campaign in the men’s singles was stopped in the quarter-final when Iranian Mohamad Reza defeated him 21-19, 21-19.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Badminton Federation official Naqi Mohsin, said that some national players had got entry in the tournament, by bypassing the federation.

“The PBF has asked the organisers not to allow any illegal players and it has also started inquiry against those players,” he said.

According to the entries list Ashraf Masih, Iqbal Imran, Mubashar Ahmad Khan, Amanullah Riaz and Amer Shuja Qureshi got entry directly, by passing the federation.

Naqi said according to unconfirmed reports none of them went to Syria after the PBF became aware of it.