KARACHI Fancied Wapda and National Bank open their campaign to dominate men's and women's categories respectively in the 52nd National badminton championships which gets underway at the PSB Coaching Centre today.

Wapda are the reigning men's team event champions while National Bank holds the women's team title. Similarly, Wapda's Wajid Ali and NBP's Sara Khan will defend their men's and women's singles crowns.

Sara, 21, rose to heights when she won her maiden national title overcoming bankmate Ayesha Akram in the women's singles final at Islamabad last year.

Wajid edged Umer Zeeshan to win the men's individual title.

According to draws, Wapda and NBP have got a first round bye in the men's and women's team event. The team event finals will be played on Monday.

Meanwhile, with the exception of three upcountry outfits, other teams have already reached here for the premier event of the game. The teams which have arrived include Wapda, National Bank, Army, Punjab, Balochistan, NWFP, Islamabad, Railways, HEC, New Khan, and PMAD besides Karachi-based KPT and Sindh.

The teams which have failed to reach here were Azad Kashmir, Northern Areas and Fata.

The NBP, meanwhile, has named its team for the event.

Team Rizwan Azam, Ejaz Ahmed, Harrison Brent, Atif Nadeem, Kashif Sulheri and Sabir Hanif (men's), Ayesha Akram, Sara Khan, Sara Momand and Palwashah Bashir (women's). Tariq Shaheed (manager), Afshan Shakil (coach).