PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttlers may have to brace for higher expenses after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced that their premier Super 1000 tournaments will be extended starting next year.
Professional squad assistant coach Ameer Amri Zainuddin views the revamp from two perspectives.
With most independent players relying on sponsorship and their own funds to sustain their careers, the changes could pose financial challenges when they take effect next year.
BWF will extend the duration of Super 1000 events from the usual six days to 11 days.
In addition, the Denmark Open will be elevated to Super 1000 status, joining the Malaysian Open, Indonesian Open, All England and China Open.
“I cannot deny that there are pros and cons to this change.
‘‘But financially, it will certainly be challenging for us.
“Normally, the cost for one player to compete in tournaments in Asia is around RM4,000 to RM5,000, covering flights, accommodation and other expenses.
“The amount rises significantly when we compete in Europe, ranging from RM10,000 to RM18,000.
“Moving forward, we may need discussions with the players and sponsors on how to absorb these additional costs following the extension of the tournament period,” said Ameer.
At the same time, Ameer believes the increased prize purse, which has been raised to US$26.9mil (RM105.7mil), could serve as added motivation for players to offset their expenses.
“I think this is a positive move as the prize money has also been increased. As it is, many of our players who reach the quarter-finals or semi-finals already earn decent returns, so the higher prize purse will be even more encouraging.
“Also, with Super 1000 tournaments now lasting 11 days and rest days built in, senior players like Goh Soon Huat (35-years-old) could benefit.
“There will be more recovery time and more room for us to plan strategies, compared to before when early round matches ended close to midnight and we had very little time to prepare for the next match,” he added.
