BWF’s new rule in dress code condemned by Indian female shuttlers and women organisations
The Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) new rule in dress code that female badminton players will wear skirts instead of shorts is condemned in the whole world. Severe criticism came from the Indian shuttlers together with some women’s organisations. India’s
top seed and world number three, Saina Nehwal, expressed her unhappiness regarding this new rule which is forcing females to wear skirts against their consent.
The purpose of BWF behind this new rule is to glamorise the game to gain more viewership, sponsors and media coverage for the major events. This intention of BWF is not the right option to take the game forward, as there should be other plans for the promotion
of the game.
A member of India’s National Commission for women, Yasmin Abrar, criticised this move of BWF by saying that, "Sports should be treated as sports. Forcing a dress code to make a game attractive is wrong."
Saina expressed her views that she wears shorts not skirts and she finds the stadium full, whenever she plays. To wear a skirt is not the right idea to increase the crowd as there are much better options to promote Badminton in the world. The portrayal of
pictures in skirts on the newspapers will also generate a feel of disapproval.
Saina said, "When pictures of me and other players in flying skirts come out in the papers ...there will be opposition."
The rule of dress code will be put into practice from 1 May and it will become mandatory for every female shuttler to wear skirt during matches of Grand Prix and above ranked events.
The general secretary of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Sudha Sundaraman condemned this plan by saying that this is not the right way to deal things with.
The women’s doubles top seed of India, Jwala Gutta says that she doesn’t have any issue with wearing skirts, but to make it mandatory is not the right step as it is the right of the players to wear what they like and makes them comfortable while playing.
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