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Sunday August 9, 2009

Badminton: Organisers move to allay fears after report on terrorist threat

By RAJES PAUL

A NEWSPAPER report in Hyderabad that the World Championships venue may be a target of terrorist attack has put fear and anxiety in the minds of everyone yesterday.

The newspaper report that left Hyderabad in fear.

National doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky said his eyes nearly popped out when he read about the threat in the local newspaper, The Times of India, in the morning.

“I was shocked to read the report which said that the world meet will be one of the targets,” said Rexy.

The initial reaction was understandable because there were incidents of bombings in Hyderabad last year.

But the Badminton World Federa­tion (BWF) quickly played down the report, saying there was no such threat.

The BWF held an emergency meeting with the security team to discuss the article that appeared on the front page of the newspaper. It claimed that a group of terrorist was targeting the world meet, which will begin at the Gachibowli Stadium tomorrow.

The Cyberrabad Police Commis­sioner, Prabakhar Reddy, also issued a press statement later yesterday confirming that there was no security threat.

“There is no specific threat to the security of the World Championships. There were no calls or threats made to the security of the world meet,” he said.

“Whatever measures we are taking now (on assigning many security personnel) are routine.

“There has been a general alert to tighten up the security because of our upcoming Independent Day celebration on Aug 15. This is what we do every year ahead of the celebration.”

The teams, however, have been advised to be patient as they go through several security check points at the hotel and the stadium throughout the one-week competition.

Rexy said the Malaysian players would not let the matter affect their preparation for the world meet.

“We are quite strict about our players’ whereabouts. For now, we are confined to the hotel and stadium only,” said Rexy.

“We have also asked the team members to stay calm. We have to rely on who we believe and ask for God’s protection.

Strict security: Lee Chong Wei getting onto a bus under the watchful eyes of a thickly moustached policeman. -S.S.KANESAN / The Star

“The players have been told to stay calm and to focus on their dreams of making history here.

“I am not making light of this matter but we have to take it in the proper perspective.”

All the teams have arrived for the world meet and had a feel of the stadium throughout the day.

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