By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
ZAMBIA’S participation at the World Badminton Junior Championship that gets underway on Monday has received a boost after the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) yesterday sanctioned three air tickets to enable the team to travel.
The Badminton Zambia (BZ) had difficulties to secure tickets for the national team that is expected to depart for Malaysia today for the prestigious competition.
BZ general secretary Kingsley Mulenga said in an interview that the National Olympics Committee (NOC) is today expected to contribute two air tickets for the team.
“I can confirm that the National Sports Council has given us three air tickets as they pledged and the NOC got in touch with us to enquire about our players’ details and we expect two tickets from them today so that our team can leave for the tournament.
This is a good development for the team and we will also make frantic efforts to ensure the remaining air tickets are secured tomorrow (today),” he said.
And Mulenga said the association had trimmed the Zambian contingent from seven to five.
He said with the recommendation of national team coach Juma Muwowo, the association has since dropped Kalombo Mulenga and Mary Mukunkami from the team, leaving Chongo Mulenga, Chezwa Nakanda, Evelyn Siamupangila and Mary Chilambe as Zambia’s flag bearers.
“We have decided to reduce the team to four players and a coach in order to cut on the costs,” he said.
Zambia is scheduled to open the competition with an encounter against the hosts Malaysia on Monday before facing India and Afghanistan respectively in the teams’ event.