Security tightened for World Badminton Championship

Hyderabad, Aug 8 :-

  The sleuths of security agencies visited the badminton academy run by Pullela Gopichand at the GMC Balayogi Stadium and carried out random checks following a terror threat to the World Badminton Championships to be held from August 10 to 16.

In the wake of Intelligence Bureau alert that Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Tayyaba is planning fresh terror strikes around Independence Day in three major cities — Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata and a terror threat to the World Badminton Championships, the security agencies visited the badminton academy to step up security.

Officials of the Badminton Association of India said the IB team took stock of the situation. The threat follows a terror alert ahead of August 15.

The officials said that preparations are in the final stages for the World Badminton Championship (WBC) 2009 to be held at the Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad from August 10 to 16.

Players from 12 countries have already reached the city for the mega event while others from as many countries would be here tonight, Punnaiah Choudary, Organising Secretary of WBC told TNN today.

Top players like Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark, Lin Dan and Tine Rasmussen are here.The teams will be practicing at the main stadium tomorrow, Choudary said.Meanwhile, tight security arrangements are being made for the high-profile event by the Andhra Pradesh Police.