Fix the problem: Goh Liu Ying said it was risky for top shuttlers to play in many tournaments as they can injure themselves.
PETALING JAYA: Former mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying understands the pain and gain as a professional player as she was one before.
That’s why she is sympathetic towards two time Olympic Games men’s singles champion Viktor Axelsen and a host of top players as they are subjected to hectic schedule every month under the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) top players commitment rule.
Liu Ying said it was tough for top athletes to compete in as many tournaments as possible without putting themselves at risk of injury. She, however, admits that it’s a battle to find a balance for the world-class athletes and a challenge for the governing bodies to limit the strain on the players with back-to-back tournaments.
“The professional badminton calendar is too hectic for the world’s top shuttlers, putting them in a tough position where they need to balance competing and taking care of their health,” said Liu Ying, who won a silver medal with Chan Peng Soon at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Liu Ying says BWF should reconsider the tournament calendar, allowing more rests for players in between competitions, otherwise, they will be more susceptible to injuries.
“For an experienced athlete, who is older, the most tournaments they can play in a year is 15. But that’s not even including competitions such as the World Championships, Asian Games, SEA Games, and so on.
“Those are also compulsory tournaments. Sometimes Chan Peng Soon and I compete in more than 20 tournaments a year.
“Sometimes it’s about catching up on ranking points, and sometimes we even compete in Super 300 tournaments as a warm up to bigger competitions,” she said.
Liu Ying hoped Axelsen’s plea for BWF to review the taxing tournament schedule would be heard.
“I understand that BWF want to attract fans and that many countries want to have tournaments, but maybe they can think about a better balance and not make the athletes too tired,” she said.
“When the athletes are younger, they are able to keep up with the schedule and compete more frequently.
“Maybe Axelsen didn’t feel it as much before this, but with age catching up, the problem is much clearer,” she said.
Axelsen withdrew from the World Tour Finals next week due to foot injury, and is prepared to face a fine of US$5,000 for his no show in Hangzhou.
Under top players’ commitment rules though, injured players must still make their way to the tournament venue to be part of the world body’s promotional events.
While Liu Ying agrees that BWF are right to provide fans with more badminton action, but a balance between entertainment and the athletes’ well-being needs to be made.
