Datuk Punch Gunalan, executive deputy president of Badminton
World Federation, told Xinhua News Agency?that BWF aims to
make badminton the number one racket sport.
In 2005, BWF (then IBF) decided to hold the world championships
annually, during the Thomas and Uber Cups, BWF launched the 21
point system and during 2007 Sudirman Cup, BWF's new logo was
officially launched.
Gunalan explained that the reason for the above changes were for
a bigger picture.
"We are in the process trying to beat tennis and try to be the
number one sport in the racket." he said.
"If you want to beat tennis, you need to have a lot of
tournaments, you need to have a lot of players, you need to attract
more players to participate. We don't necessarily need the same
players, we need more new ones."
"Even top players don't like the changes, we need more lower
level players to get involved."
Gunalan mentioned that holding the world championships annually
was for commercial reasons.
"Though now we can not judge the effect, we need three or four
world championships to see and then we will review it. But
definitely we have more money."
As for the reason for making a few reforms within three year,
Gunalan said: "If we just do one by one, for example, we change the
scoring system and four years later we change another one. We are
trying to put a lot of things together and to make the changes as
quick as possible to catch up (with tennis)."
To beat tennis is actually BWF's second objective.
"As you know, Olympics, we are nearly sure to be there, but we
are quite confident now because IOC set 25 core sports since 2020
Olympic Games, and badminton is between 11 to 14 (ranking). So this
objective (keep badminton in Olympic Games) we have achieved."
To achieve the second goal, BWF launched new logo.
"Now many associations including all continental federations
have launched new logos," said Gunalan. "We put 'badminton' in the
first place, like BAF, BEF to highlight 'badminton'."
Moreover, Gunalan tends to introduce badminton league to schools
so as to have more youngsters playing badminton.
However, unlike China which learns more about the commercial
value of badminton, most European countries tend to foster
professional shuttlers after they finish schooling and badminton is
not that popular in Europe as in Asia.
(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2007)