LAHORE – The Badminton World Federation has barred Pakistan from fielding any badminton players in international tournaments before having elected a proper representation. The decision to bar Pakistani players from international tournaments came after the world body suspended the Pakistan Badminton Federation.
The BWF, in a confusion over who to listen from the two warring groups of Aamer Hayat Khan Rokhri and Nazar Muhammad Gondal, took the decision and also asked the Pakistan Olympics Association to provide it with documentary proof of the body which is the true representative of Pakistan badminton. Rokhri has on the other hand blamed Gondal for his illegal activities that moved the BWF to take the suspension decision.
Rokhri said that if he (Gondal) had accepted the decision of the Arbitration Committee of POA given on February 10, 2011, fresh elections could have been held by the end of February, avoiding this decision by the BWF. “Formation of a parallel body by Nazar Muhammad Gondal is solely responsible for suspension by the World Body,” he added.
The BWF, in an email to Rokhri, stated that the suspension has been imposed because none of the badminton federations meet their requirement of affiliation which are recognition by the sports governing authority and the national Olympic committee of Pakistan.
The POA has directed that fresh elections be held after conducting arbitration proceedings. Fresh elections are scheduled to be held on Thursday (April 14).
He asked the Gondal group to participate in the elections. No one from Gondal side was available for comments.
