Finance a concern for World Badminton but we are optimistic: Verma

"Financial resources are a major concern because the projected expenditure for the event is about six crore, including three crore that needs to paid to the Badminton World Federation as the sanction money. As of now we have managed half the money and efforts are on to get the rest," said Verma.

"We are doing the marketing, we have prepared the project report of the World Championship and sent it to the various sponsors. But the market is so negative at the moment because of recession, that the response is slow but we hope to raise some more money," he added.

Verma, who has been appointed vice-president of the BWF recently, said there would be stringent security arrangements for the event and Australian security experts would be present throughout the event scheduled from August 10 to 16 in Hyderabad.

"A security team from Australia is coming to Hyderabad from June 1-5 to do an extensive survey and would be meeting the police commissioner and minister in-charge for security in Hyderabad.

"They would give us a blue print for the different levels of security that needs to be implemented. They would be working along with the organising committee and security experts from Intelligence Risk (a security agency) would be there throughout the tournament," Verma said.

Verma said it would be wishful thinking to hope India would win the event but nevertheless he wants the country's shuttlers to at least make the quarterfinal and semifinal of the tournament.

"We would be happy with Saina (Nehwal) reaching the semi-finals and Chetan Anand entering the quarterfinals and one doubles pair reaching the quarters or prequarters, that should be good," he said.
Verma also said that efforts are on to send a senior team of six to nine shuttlers for specialised training in Indonesia, prior to the tournament in July.
"We have sent a proposal to the Badminton Association of Indonesia to provide training to six to eight top Indian shuttlers, like Saina, Chetan (Anand) in July this year. The team will mainly have doubles players like Rupesh-Thomas and Jwala-Diju," he said.