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)