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| Babminton player Ha Jung Eun from South Korea competes during the 2011 Sudirman Cup mixed doubles championships in China. Photograph: Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images |
Badminton's world governing body has skirted the issue of a new dress code for women players which had been condemned by the UK sports minister, Hugh Robertson, as a "regressive and damaging" attempt to sex up the sport.
The Badminton World Federation council, meeting in Qingdao, China, on Saturday, said "further study" on the general clothing regulations was needed, meaning the new rules would not be introduced as part of an apparent move to raise the profile of the women's game.
The idea of forcing women to wear skirts or dresses in competition, mooted by the BWF, was also opposed by Badminton England. The BWF accepted recommendations of the women in badminton committee, led by former world champion Nora Perry . "It is still our intention to focus on a better presentation of the game," she said, "but we will like to broaden the scope to include both men and women, and the feedback will also include views from various stakeholders such as the clothing manufacturers."
The BWF planned to allow women to still wear shorts or long pants for cultural and religious reasons – as long as they were worn under a dress or skirt. Male players would simply dress in "proper attire".
Kaveh Mehrabi, who chairs the Athletes Commission representing players' interests, welcomed the decision to improve the game's presentation.
Roberston said: "Sport should be judged on the merits of the contest and not on attempts to sex it up artificially."
Paisan Rangsikitpho, the American deputy president of the BFW – which has only two women on its 25-member board – denied changes were an attempt to use sex to promote the sport. "We just want them to look feminine and have a nice presentation so women will be more popular." he said. "Interest is declining. Some women compete in oversize shorts and long pants and appear baggy, almost like men."
source : guardian.
