ants
08-05-2005, 09:47 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Mohd Hafiz Hashim can rest easy now. His application for a visa to enter United States for the World Championships in Anaheim, California has been approved.
The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur called the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) office yesterday to convey the good news.
BAM secretary Gangga Rao said Hafiz's visa will be ready for collection next week.
“Hafiz has already submitted his passport for visa application. The embassy informed us today that his visa would be ready by next week,” said Gangga.
He was confident there would not be any issue with the visa processing for the Malaysian players and coaches.
“BAM had also forwarded an official letter from the Youth and Sports Ministry to help Hafiz get his visa.
“The country is hosting the world meet for the first time and the embassy may need to relay information to the state department, hence the waiting period.”
Hafiz was the only player out of the 21-member squad without a visa for the trip until Thursday.
The world meet will be held in United States for the first time from Aug 15-21 and the Malaysian team were due to leave in two batches from Aug 11.
Hafiz had applied for his visa together with the rest of the team at the embassy last Thursday.
The others were informed of their successful application, except for the 22-year-old and Wong Choong Hann. However, Choong Hann got the clearance for his visa on Tuesday.
Hafiz said he is looking forward to competing with the rest of the Malaysian team in Anaheim.
“I can now focus on my preparations without any doubts in my mind,” said the 2003 All-England champion, who will be making his second appearance in the world meet.
National head coach Yap Kim Hock said Hafiz need not worry now that he has got his visa.
“Hafiz can look forward to competing with the rest of the Malaysian team in Anaheim. I hope his mind will be at ease now.”
Besides Hafiz and Choong Hann, the other men's singles players is national number one Lee Chong Wei.
The others in the squad are doubles players Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui, Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng; women singles players Wong Mew Choo, M. Sutheaswari; and the women's doubles pairs of Mooi Hing Yau-Ooi Sock Ai, Fong Chew Yen-See Phui Leng and Lim Pek Siah-Chor Hooi Yee.
Three non-BAM players – M. Sutheaswari (women's singles), Lim Pek Siah and Ang Li Peng (women's doubles) have also qualified for the world meet. They are competing in a tournament in New Zealand and will fly straight to the US from there.
The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur called the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) office yesterday to convey the good news.
BAM secretary Gangga Rao said Hafiz's visa will be ready for collection next week.
“Hafiz has already submitted his passport for visa application. The embassy informed us today that his visa would be ready by next week,” said Gangga.
He was confident there would not be any issue with the visa processing for the Malaysian players and coaches.
“BAM had also forwarded an official letter from the Youth and Sports Ministry to help Hafiz get his visa.
“The country is hosting the world meet for the first time and the embassy may need to relay information to the state department, hence the waiting period.”
Hafiz was the only player out of the 21-member squad without a visa for the trip until Thursday.
The world meet will be held in United States for the first time from Aug 15-21 and the Malaysian team were due to leave in two batches from Aug 11.
Hafiz had applied for his visa together with the rest of the team at the embassy last Thursday.
The others were informed of their successful application, except for the 22-year-old and Wong Choong Hann. However, Choong Hann got the clearance for his visa on Tuesday.
Hafiz said he is looking forward to competing with the rest of the Malaysian team in Anaheim.
“I can now focus on my preparations without any doubts in my mind,” said the 2003 All-England champion, who will be making his second appearance in the world meet.
National head coach Yap Kim Hock said Hafiz need not worry now that he has got his visa.
“Hafiz can look forward to competing with the rest of the Malaysian team in Anaheim. I hope his mind will be at ease now.”
Besides Hafiz and Choong Hann, the other men's singles players is national number one Lee Chong Wei.
The others in the squad are doubles players Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui, Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng; women singles players Wong Mew Choo, M. Sutheaswari; and the women's doubles pairs of Mooi Hing Yau-Ooi Sock Ai, Fong Chew Yen-See Phui Leng and Lim Pek Siah-Chor Hooi Yee.
Three non-BAM players – M. Sutheaswari (women's singles), Lim Pek Siah and Ang Li Peng (women's doubles) have also qualified for the world meet. They are competing in a tournament in New Zealand and will fly straight to the US from there.