By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

ZAMBIA’S participation at the 2015 World Junior Badminton Championships billed for Peru hangs in a balance as Badminton Zambia (BZ) is still scouting for K240,000 required to send a team for the event.
BZ has picked five shuttlers to represent the country at the world’s most prestigious junior tournament that pits under-20 players in various categories.
However, with just about two weeks left before the championship starts in Lima on November 4, BZ has not yet secured the funds to facilitate for the team’s travel.
BZ general secretary Kingsley Mulenga said in an interview that the association was still making frantic efforts to see to it that Zambia was represented at the championship that will end on November 15.
“We are still looking for money to fulfill the Peru assignment. At the moment, we have not raised anything but we are hoping that well-wishers can come to our aid.
“If only someone can come forward and buy us tickets for the players, we will greatly appreciate because the BWF (Badminton World Federation) will cater for accommodation and other expenses there,” Mulenga said.
Meanwhile, Mulenga said BZ was pleased with the entries coming in ahead of the Zambia International Championship that starts on November 24 to 27.
The Zambia open, to be held in Lusaka, is part of the Southern Africa Circuit for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers.
Mulenga said so far the association has had entries from the USA, Italy, Iran and Germany, among others, ahead of the deadline next week.
“We received overwhelming response from players across the globe looking at the entries we have so far. As you know players want to amass points and so those from Europe look at such a tournament as the opportunity to gain points, hence we are yet to see more entries from there,” he said.