BWF SHUTTLE WORLD EDITION 33 (APRIL 2021).Pdf
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SHUTTLAPRIL 2021 / EDITION NO. 33 E WORLD KEY JUNCTURE Quarter 2 of 2021 is set to be a defining one for the badminton community. > SEE PAGES 2-8 PAGE 2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Looking ahead with optimism There is a sense of excitement in the air. In May, we also have our last qualification COVID-19 pandemic and the postponement of tournament for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. After 12 months of COVID-19 frustration, – the Spanish Para Badminton International 2021. the coming months will see some important There is also a proposal from Indonesian happenings in the badminton world. I would like to congratulate all players for Badminton Association and Badminton being part of this very special qualifying Association of Maldives, seconded by Badminton The Olympic qualifying period will draw to a process leading up to badminton’s debut Asia, Badminton Korea Association and Chinese close with the conclusion of the Singapore at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Taipei Badminton Association, to amend the Laws Open. I wish all players still vying for of Badminton relating to the scoring system. crucial ranking points the best of luck. It was so good seeing a number of you back on court in Dubai last month. This topic has been something I have been closely It has not been an easy journey but I attached to and is part of my vision to make thank the BWF team, our Continental May also sees our 82nd BWF AGM, with a badminton more exciting as we look to increase Confederations, all our Member Hosts, number of important proposals on the agenda. the entertainment value for stakeholders and fans. and of course the players, for making the staging We have our BWF Council Elections, which this of these key qualifying tournaments possible. time uniquely falls in an Olympic year due to the Continued on Page 3 www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 3 Nozomi Okuhara is one of the favourites at her home Olympics. Continued from Page 2 The last time this was tabled in 2018, it did Finally, a quick note to check out the BWF Para shuttler Noor Azwan Noorland's resonate with a significant section of our Annual Report 2020. The difficulties of the last thumbs up Membership. Unfortunately, it did not get year have been well documented, but there for the recent the required two-thirds majority support. were also success points across a number of Dubai event. We concede the timing was not right back BWF-led activities, and we’d like to thank then, but I’m pleased to see this being everyone within the badminton community driven by the Membership once more. for their cooperation, collaboration and support in helping us keep badminton It’s important to note that this is only proposed to relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. be introduced after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I’m confident this is a Stay safe, and I look forward to seeing more favourable time to effect this change. many of you online at our second virtual AGM on 22 May 2021. In advance of the AGM, I ask everyone within the badminton community – Member Associations, players, coaches and team management – to familiarise yourselves with the relevant scoring system information available on the BWF website and to consult internally within your Federations ahead of the 22 May vote. Poul-Erik Høyer Published by Badminton World Federation Text: Dev Sukumar, Dianne Pierre, Lloyd Green, Geethanjali Lakshmayya and Prem Kumar Design: Ahmad Hafidz Images: BadmintonPhoto & James Varghese April 2021 www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 4 BUILD-UP TO AGM 2021 BWF Council Elections The 82nd BWF Annual General Meeting There are a further 30 candidates (AGM) will be held on 22 May, the third for the remaining 20 Council virtual one after last year’s AGM and positions. Elections will be January’s Extraordinary General Meeting. conducted virtually using electronic voting systems. A number of items are on the agenda, including the scheduled All candidates have been put BWF Council Elections. forward and declared eligible following a thorough vetting process There is just one nominee each for by the new BWF Vetting Panel. three positions on the Executive Board: BWF President – Poul-Erik Høyer The Membership will also vote at (Denmark); BWF Deputy President the AGM to confirm the inaugural – KhunyingPatama Leeswadtrakul members of the BWF Vetting Panel, (Thailand); BWF Vice President-Para as well as BWF Independent Hearing Badminton – Paul Kurzo (Switzerland). Panel (IHP) and the President and Deputy President of the IHP. The incumbents for those positions stand to be re-elected unopposed, The Council was delegated by signalling continuity at the top of the AGM 2020 to establish these the BWF leadership. inaugural panels. www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 5 BUILD-UP TO AGM 2021 Proposed scoring system change One of the key topics that will be voted on by the Background of the Membership is the proposal from Indonesian 5x11 system Badminton Association and Badminton Association of Maldives, seconded by Badminton The proposal for a new scoring system Asia, Badminton Korea Association and Chinese was first articulated by the BWF Council in Taipei Badminton Association, to amend the Laws March 2014 as it was felt that matches were of Badminton relating to the Scoring System. getting longer, while the shuttle was in play for much shorter periods than earlier. BWF Council decided to express its support for this proposal as it aligns with the objectives At the Council Session in Montego Bay, of the BWF Strategic Plan 2020-2024 to: Jamaica in November 2017, the proposal to implement the 5x11 system was discussed, ▸ Include new and innovative presenting feedback from broadcasters. elements of the game to ensure this continues to evolve over time. The proposal was put to vote at the BWF AGM in ▸ Excite, engage and enhance our May 2018 in Bangkok, and while it received 129 global fan base through inspirational votes in favour and 123 votes against, it was not performances at world-class events. passed as it required a two-thirds majority of 168. What you need to know? Action for BWF AGM 2021 ▸ Proposal submitted by Badminton Indonesia BWF encourages all stakeholder groups and Badminton Maldives, seconded by within the badminton community – Badminton Asia, Badminton Korea Association Member Associations, players, coaches and Chinese Taipei Badminton Association. and team management – to review the ▸ Based on 5 games to 11. relevant material available and consult ▸ Related changes regarding Change of Ends internally within their Federations. and Continuous Play also motioned. ▸ Not to be introduced until after the Tokyo More information will be circulated in the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. build up to the AGM on 22 May 2021. www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 6 Benefits of Upgrading Proposed Scoring 1 our sport System Change Making badminton more exciting and engaging $ Increase the commercial value of our sport 2 Enhance the Enrich our fan quality of our experience broadcast product 1 Challenges Longer matches Current System Upgrade the presentation of the elite badminton 3 2 Raise the Greater physical and Longer breaks profile of our Strengthen our mental stress on players between points stars and profile as a leads to more injuries emerging cutting-edge talent sport Innovate our competition Solutions rules 1 Enhanced scoring system 2 More efficient court management Proposed scoring system 3 Extend length of Easy to Strategic Goals understand 4 the peaks The proposed changes align Get to Moments of peaks increased with the BWF Strategic Plan faster focus 2020-2024: ▶ Best of 5 to 11 ▶ Current setting rules from 10-10 capped at 15 ▶ Changing sides in the 5th at 6 Include new and More Reduce the peaks length of the innovative elements of matches the game to ensure this continues to evolve over time. Excite, engage and enhance our global fan base through inspirational performances at world-class events. www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 7 This infographic illustrates the potential benefits the Focusing on scoring system change could have for athletes and badminton's overall development. This aligns with the objectives of the BWF Strategic Plan 2020-2024 to include new and innovative elements of the game and our players to excite, engage and enhance our global fan base. Higher Player Income Higher Lifetime Higher Player Income Income Greater Commercial Longer Playing Value Increased Viewership Career / Higher Revenues Lower Less Physical Injury Better TV Product Pressure Risk More Fan Engagement Shorter Matches Controlling Match Length Enhanced Rules Higher Player $ Income Lower Injury Risk www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 8 Equation gets harder Saina Nehwal is on tricky ground as she Committee can qualify only if both are in the top eight. Double Qualifiers seeks to qualify for her fourth Olympics. Rio 2016 silver medallists Goh V Shem and Tan A few are possible double-qualifiers as they are Nehwal, currently No.22 in the Race to Tokyo, Wee Kiong are nearly 10,000 points adrift of well-placed in the Race to Tokyo: Yuta Watanabe, must finish the qualifying period within the compatriots Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, while another Seo Seung Jae, Marcus Ellis, Lauren Smith, Robin top 16 if she has to qualify behind compatriot Malaysian pair, Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi, are close Tabeling, Selena Piek, Mark Lamsfuss, Jason Pusarla V. Sindhu, who is comfortable at No.7. behind. The seasoned Malaysians need a lot of luck Anthony Ho-Shue and Anuluwapo Juwon Opeyori. coming their way to make it from this position. The YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2021 could have presented Nehwal a good chance to Among the veterans likely to miss out are Ko Sung earn valuable points, but with its cancellation, Hyun/Shin Baek Cheol and Lee Yong Dae/Kim Remaining she will find it much harder to qualify.