Top players unhappy with new playing structure
Print Edition
World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, Malaysia鈥檚 Lee Chong Wei and China鈥檚 Lin Dan have expressed concerns about a new tournament structure requiring players to compete in more events.
The complaints emerged at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, which has been upgraded this year by governing body the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as it looks to raise the sport鈥檚 profile and ramp up revenues.
The new tour series 鈥 featuring six levels and higher prize money 鈥 kicks off this year and runs until 2021. At least a million dollars is up for grabs in each of its top four events.
But it also requires athletes to compete in more events 鈥 the top 15 singles players and top 10 doubles pairings must take part in 12 a year, an additional two from the previous structure.
The Malaysia Masters, which has seen its prize money almost triple to US$350,000, attracted many more big names than it had in the past as players seek to fulfil the requirements.
But some complained competing in so many events this year would be a burden, and a string of top players crashed out on the opening day on Wednesday 鈥 world No. 2 Lee, five-time world champion Lin and Olympic champion Chen Long.
Lee said he was prepared to pay a penalty to skip an event if he felt he needed to.
鈥淚f I have to pay a fine for skipping an event, I will. I鈥檓 not 25 anymore, I鈥檓 36 this year,鈥 said Lee after losing to Japan鈥檚 Kenta Nishimoto.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think BWF will review the format, because if they wanted to, they would have done it.鈥
Denmark鈥檚 Axelsen, who beat South Korea鈥檚 Lee Hyun-Il in the opening round, was also critical.
鈥淲e (would) rather have high quality than too many tournaments where the best players can鈥檛 perform because we don鈥檛 have time to train.鈥
Five-time world champion Lin, who was beaten by Indonesia鈥檚 Ihsan Maulana Mustofa, added: 鈥淭he top players will focus on the big tournaments... If we have to play in so many tournaments, we won鈥檛 play our best.鈥
The BWF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Malaysia Masters runs until Sunday.
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