WORLD SHUTTLEJANUARY - MARCH 2015 / EDITION NO. 9 Woman in Badminton: Australia’s Val Nesbitt. Malaysia’s Moment: Three stalwarts of Malaysian badminton, HRH Tengku Kamil Ismail Tengku Idris Shah (right); Tan Sri Ir (Dr) Mohamed Al-Amin Abd Majid (second left) and Wan Mohammed Haji Wan Awang (left), received their Meritorious Service Awards from BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer at the Maybank Malaysia Open 2015. HIGHLIGHTS ROAD TO RIO: SCRAMBLE FOR SALUTING OLYMPIC PLACES BECKONS (PAGE 4) ‘Shuttle Service’ NEW BADMINTON RESEARCH Stories of life-long service to badminton; pioneering and diligent work in the sport; and peerless UNDERWAY (PAGES 8-9) officiating leap from the Badminton World Federation’s 2014 awards list. Whether it’s the more than 45 years that John Havers served on Badminton England’s Council or the innovative coaching techniques introduced by former Chinese head coach Wang Wenjiao or the vital development and promotion of badminton by stalwarts like Australia’s Val Nesbitt KEY DATES or Professor Dr. Puzant Kassabian of Bulgaria – the progress of badminton through the ages unfolds in the biographies of those saluted by the world-governing body. Continues on page 9 07-12 April OUE Singapore Open 2015 (Superseries), Singapore 14-19 April China Masters 2015 (Grand Prix Gold), Changzhou 21-26 April Badminton Asia Championships 2015 (Continental Championships), Wuhan (China) 28 April-03 May Skycity New Zealand Open 2015 (Grand Prix Gold), Auckland 10-17 May BWF Sudirman Cup 2015, Dongguan (China) 26-31 May The Star Australian Open (Superseries), Sydney 02-07 June Indonesia Open 2015 (Superseries Premier), Jakarta 12-28 June Baku 2015 European Games (Multisports), Baku (Azerbaijan) 16-21 June 2015 Yonex US Open Badminton Championships (Grand Prix Gold), New York lifetime Achievement Awards: Wang Wenjiao of China (left) and John Havers of England. BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION www.bwfbadminton.org PAGE 2 EDITORIAL Dear Colleagues and Friends As we move into the second quarter of 2015, the badminton season is well underway and we have already seen our top athletes in action in the MetLife BWF World Superseries at events like the Yonex All England Championships; the Yonex-Sunrise India Open and the Maybank Malaysia Open. The Indian tournament will be long remembered by home fans who saw two of their own win the singles titles. All this signals that we are once again en route to the BWF World Superseries Finals in Dubai, with lots of action and suspense awaiting us in the months ahead. We again look forward to partnering with Falcon and Associates as well as Dubai Sports Council for another riveting conclusion to our World Superseries tour as elite competitors from across the badminton spectrum vie to qualify for the season-ender. This showdown features the top eight players/pairs in the five traditional categories clashing for a share of badminton’s richest jackpot – US$1 million. Before we reach that far however there will be the spectacle of two BWF Major Events Poul-Erik Høyer – the Vivo BWF Sudirman Cup in May and the TOTAL BWF World Championships in BWF President August – which will certainly captivate the global badminton fan base and again provide platforms for us to enjoy the best in team and individual battles. Starting in May, the “Race to Rio” Olympic Qualification is another sub-plot which will play out across the world over the next year as players try to book their place in the Rio 2016 Summer Games. All these events – let’s not forget the BWF Grand Prix Gold circuit – make for a fascinating landscape of world-class badminton which now enjoys a broadcast audience (television/ online) of more than 500 million. To accommodate fans’ desire for more live coverage, BWF is introducing a new online platform (www.livestream.com/bwfbadminton) which will show live matches on Court 2 of all MetLife BWF World Superseries and BWF Grand Prix Gold tournaments. Our para-badminton calendar is also quite busy with a mixture of international tournaments across Asian and European countries. Additionally, the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships 2015 in England this September will again bring together top performers to battle for the title of World Champion. Action began with the V Spanish Para-Badminton International in March and next turns to the China Para-Badminton International in Beijing from 13-17 May. Dublin hosts the Irish Para-Badminton International from 24-28 June while the 2nd Indonesia Para-Badminton International takes place in Solo from 5-9 August. An international tournament is also being planned in the Pan American region and details will be forthcoming. At the same time, we in BWF are pushing ahead with our development agenda. It is our goal to have implemented the schools’ grassroots programme Shuttle Time in 90 member associations by our upcoming Annual General Meeting in Dongguan, China. That would mean roughly half our 182 members have embraced the initiative whose focus is to train teachers and coaches to deliver safe and fun badminton lessons to children. On a related note, I am pleased to welcome the French islands of Martinique (in the Caribbean) and Réunion (in the Indian Ocean) as our newest members, increasing the BWF family to 182 member associations. We look forward to working with them to develop badminton in their countries. Badminton is a busy business these days and it must be pleasing to stalwarts of the sport – such as those honoured on our 2014 list of awardees highlighted in this edition – to witness its global growth. I wish to acknowledge their respective contributions whether at national, regional or international level and we at BWF thank them for their selfless work in developing badminton over the decades. It has been my privilege to have presented some of them with their awards already and I look forward to more of these moments in the months to come. Poul-Erik Høyer BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION www.bwfbadminton.org PAGE 3 in their Own wOrdS The 19-year-old Dane, who can even tie shoelaces without any problem, has a strong sense of what works for her and how best she can negotiate her way through life, with positive pursuits like her university studies and her zest for para-badminton which she started playing at age 16 thanks to a recruitment drive by Badminton Denmark. One of the sport’s blossoming players, Julie sees a bright future not only for herself but for para- badminton in general with the MADZLAN SAIBON hails from badminton-crazy Malaysia and has recent International Paralympic been playing para-badminton since 2003 in his hometown. Committee announcement, heralding badminton’s Paralympic Competing in the WH 2 sport class, he has met a lot of athletes and Games debut at Tokyo 2020. other people with whom he has become friends and been able to share his para-badminton interest. “It’s a big step for para-badminton. I hope it will grow our sport by attracting more fans and athletes. Right now we have to mix He was among those who cheered the International Paralympic categories especially in doubles. It would be great if we have enough Committee’s inclusion of badminton in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic players so categories don’t have to mix,” noted the SU 5 competitor, Games – but he fears it might be a little too late for him. who is also hoping for more para-badminton tournaments in her country. At age 39, time is not on his side but Madzlan is not giving up yet. Having been through the low of 2010 when badminton did not receive On a personal level, the landmark para-badminton development will the nod for the Paralympic Games, he is keen to reach competitive likely require this young adult to juggle her sporting ambitions with heights at least once. tertiary studies. “At last…I was so happy to hear the news last year! But 2020 is far “I’ve got to focus on my university education – something in the from now and the qualification process will be long. It may be late for sciences – but I definitely want to continue playing. I’m not letting me but I will do my best to get there.” para-badminton go because that’s given me so much, particularly friends who have the same values and struggles as me,” declared Julie who played badminton from childhood. HELLE SOFIE SAGOY only took “Now, with this opportunity of the Paralympic Games, I’m so happy. up competitive para-badminton We’re all chatting about it and really want to go. It’s something we’ve two years ago but she has already been waiting for so long.” made a name for herself and is eager to continue in that vein. “Two members from the Norwegian Badminton Federation, Johnny Askevig and Ragnhild Mizda, asked me whether I wanted to play in these tournaments and I said yes. I was really happy and excited. “I like the atmosphere and relationship among players in all tournaments because everyone is really friendly. Sometimes, I feel it is like a big family. Also, I like to compete against people who have the same impairment and I It’s not unusual to see KRYSTEN COOMBS flying across the love the positive attitude from all badminton court – literally. of them,” said the Norwegian SL 4 player. Competing in SS 6 for short stature athletes, he is as athletic as they come in his Sport Class and, having been playing para-badminton Recalling last October when she heard badminton was among the for eight years, is beginning to reap international success. first 16 sports included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the “I started playing para-badminton in 2007 at the Welsh 4 Nations 17-year-old revealed the announcement has given her even greater Para-Badminton Championships and my first international event was determination to experience that historic occasion.