Pakistan’s top ranked badminton player Rizwan Azam said that he along with his doubles partner Kashif Sulehri could easily secure a berth in the doubles event of the London Olympics.
Rizwan said that that could happen if they could contest in around six to seven tournaments a year leading up to 2012.
“We (Rizwan and Kashif) were ranked 62nd in the world circuit in 2007 because we participated in around four tournaments back to back at that time. However, after that the funds were not available and we failed to participate in international events and as a consequence our rankings fell below 300,” Rizwan Azam told PPI on Tuesday.
“But now after winning the Maldives Challenge Open doubles event recently, our rankings got a boost and now we sit at No 125 spot in the international circuit. If we get backing from the government and if they provide us enough funds so that we could compete in around six to seven international tournaments in a year, we could easily get direct berth in London Olympics in 2012,” he stressed.
He added that they ranked 62nd back in 2007 even when they (he and Kashif) were new to each other and they didnít had an effective combination as they now have developed after having played much time together. “Now we have a very effective combination as our results Maldives Challenge results show, in which we started as minnows and eventually claimed the title,” he said.
“If we feature in tournaments as our Sri Lankan or Indian counterparts do, securing a place in London Olympics is an easy job since top fifty pairs normally get a direct berth. I believe if we compete in eight or nine tournaments a year as Sri Lankans and Indians do, we can even break into top twenty doubles rankings,” he explained.
He said that Pakistan has great talent in Badminton and added that if the players are properly groomed and given chance to compete in the international tournaments, they are capable of bringing laurels to the country.
“However, funds are very important for the development of the game. At least six tournaments should regularly be organized on national level and players should also be regularly sent for international tournaments,” he said.
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