By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE-
ZAMBIA has escaped facing stiff sanctions from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) after managing to send the remaining two players to compete at the World Junior Championship that got underway in Alor Setar, Malaysia yesterday.
The BWF would have slapped a ban on Zambia for failing to assemble a team following difficulties in securing air tickets for the players.
But Badminton Zambia (BZ) managed to secure two air tickets for Chongo Mulenga and Chezwa Nakanda, who left on Sunday to link up with their compatriots Evelyn Siamupangila and Mary Chilambe, who left on Saturday with Coach Juma Muwowo.
BZ general secretary Kingsley Mulenga said in an interview yesterday that the two air tickets were sourced from travel agents on credit.
“We have managed to find two tickets for the boys that remained behind and we are grateful to the travel agent that listened to our plight and came to our aid.
It would have been very unfortunate if we did not succeed in sending our team especially that Zambia is one of the four African countries taking part in this prestigious tournament,” he said.
Mulenga said the important thing is that BZ managed to send a team to avoid getting fined from the world governing body.
He said by managing to send a team, the Zambian contingent would now benefit from the grant given to participating teams by the BWF for accommodation and upkeep.
The championship commenced with the teams’ event yesterday and Zambia opens her campaign with a date against the hosts Malaysia last night, before facing Afghanistan, India and Australia while the individual event starts on April 13 to 18.