BWF’s skirt rule still criticised by female shuttlers – Badminton News
Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) skirt rule still gets severe condemnation from female shuttlers and other concerned people from all around the world. BWF has made it mandatory for female badminton players to wear skirts, instead of wearing only shorts,
in all major international events.
Deputy President of BWF, Paisan Rangsikitpho, justified the change in the dress code and said, “The reason we want the skirt regulation is to promote women's events, which are getting less and less popular.”
This justification by an official of the BWF does not satisfy all female players and other people who are involved in badminton, in different areas of the world.
Chau Hoi Wah, a shuttler from Hong Kong, expressed that female players were quite comfortable wearing shorts as it becomes easy to attempt the strokes which require stretching. She criticised the skirt rule and said, “I don't really see the point in women
having to wear skirts.”
She further added, “I know it's to attract sponsors, but isn't there another way it can be done? Are people really going to come and watch because a girl is wearing a skirt or a tank-top? And if they are, are they really supporting badminton?”
Janice Forsyth, who is working as director of International Centre for Olympic Studies at the University of Ontario, also commented on this changed rule in dress code and said that before making a decision, one should think over all aspects of its consequences.
Janice expressed on the skirt rule by saying, “This is a blatant attempt to sexualize women. “It is amazing. You’d think at some point, somebody would have said: ‘Wait a minute. What are we doing?”
There are many Asian countries in which huge numbers of female players wear shorts and it becomes uncomfortable for them to wear a skirt, as it will affect their performance during the match. Apart from that, the skirt rule cannot be applied to Muslim female
players, as it is against their religious beliefs, norms and traditions.
The BWF has announced that this rule will be put into practice from June 1, 2011.
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