Malaysian Islamic Party calls for badminton boycott on short skirt rule – Badminton news
A Malaysian conservative Islamic party has asked badminton players to boycott major badminton events after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) passed the rule that women players must wear a short
skirt. This rule has already been objected by China, Indonesia, India, Denmark and Sweden.
The skirt rule was supposed to be implemented from May 1, but due to objections from
different badminton bodies, the federation deferred the implementation to June 1, 2011. The BWF, based in Kuala Lumpur, stated that the female shuttlers will be compelled to put on short skirts from the mentioned date.
The opposition came from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) after the rule was made compulsory. PAS stated that wearing a skirt will encourage discrimination against Muslim female players and they
will not be able to take part in top events of the sport.
Youth chief in PAS, Kamaruzaman Mohama, stated on Saturday, “PAS considers the rule ... discriminatory as it will prevent Muslim players from competing, since exposing their flesh is against their
beliefs. If BWF insists it will proceed with the rule, PAS urges the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to boycott the Singapore Open.”
All female shuttlers will follow the rule in the upcoming major badminton event, Li Ning Singapore Open 2011, running from June 14 to 19. After this major objection from different badminton federations,
BWF has tried to make the rule a little flexible. According to them, shuttlers are bound to wear skirts but they can put on trousers and shorts under them.
The deputy president of BWF, Paisan Rangsikitpho, explained that by introducing skirts they don't mean to exploit the female players. The sole reason, according to him, for this introduction was to
differentiate women’s game. He also said that the skirt does not have to be short at all.
"It has never been the intention of the BWF to portray women as sexual objects, and nor is that what we are doing. The ruling is part of a larger campaign to enhance the presentation profile of the
sport. This is to help attract a wider target group amongst both younger and older people, and among both women and men. Aesthetic and stylish presentation of the players is certainly an important factor," said Rangsikitpho.
However, there is a possibility that the rule might be declared null and void after so much criticism from a number of badminton bodies around the world.
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