Badminton fraternity slams World body's senior official for saying skirts will fetch players more sponsorship deals
Badminton fraternity slams World body's senior official for saying skirts will fetch players more sponsorship deals
Let skills, rather than skirts show up is the Indian badminton fraternity's messageu00a0 to the sport's influential official. Paisan Rangsikitpho, deputy president of Badminton World Federation (BWF), the sport's parent body, has added more fuel to the burning issue of making skirts compulsory.
Badminton players in skirts
Rangsikitpho said yesterday that female shuttlers will earn more money by wearing skirts or dresses to which India's badminton fraternity reacted sharply. Aparna Popat, international shuttler and eight-time consecutive women's singles national champion, termed the comment as 'ridiculous' and in bad taste.u00a0
Ridiculous
"It is quite ridiculous. Just being glamorous isn't going to help the sport too much. The emphasis should be on skills rather than looks. Of course, being presentable is necessary, but making skirts compulsory is a bit too much," Popat told MiD DAY yesterday.u00a0u00a0u00a0
"The reason we want the skirt regulation is to promote women's events, which are getting less and less popular. The bottom line is: they could earn more sponsorship and more money," Rangsikitpho was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the Sudirman Cup in China. "First of all, it's quite odd for someone to say this," added Popat. "I don't understand how it (the ruling) will change the scenario. In fact, shuttlers have been wearing skirts since four to five years, but that has not had any bearing on the game."u00a0
Vimal Kumar, former India coach and international shuttler, opined that BWF should look at other grave issues.
"I feel they (BWF) are short of ideas to come up with such suggestions. There are bigger issues like popularising the sport than sticking to this (skirt). I am sure making skirts compulsory will not make any great difference to the sport. Instead, what they should do is schedule matches at a time when people are available.
They wrap up everything before 6pm. I don't even feel like talking about this anymore," said Kumar.u00a0u00a0
Nehwal Sr livid
Saina Nehwal's father Dr Harvir Singh slammed Rangsikitpho's view too. "I don't understand why they have to bring up this issue in the middle of an important tournament (Sudirman Cup). It is sad to project a sport like this," said Nehwal senior.
The controversial issue is likely to come up for more heated discussion at the BWF annual general meeting
on Saturday.
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