Some well-known badminton personalities – five men and three women – are vying for three places to represent their peers on the BWF Athletes’ Commission.
After four days of voting – two at the Yonex German Open 2013 and two at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships – players will know on Thursday 7 March who they have selected to speak and act on their collective behalf for the next four years.
Those seeking election are: Imogen Bankier (Scotland); Cai Yun (China); Koo Kien Keat (Malaysia); Kaveh Mehrabi (Iran); Greysia Polii (Indonesia); Yuhan Tan (Belgium); Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (Denmark); and Wang Xin (China). All, except Mehrabi – who chaired the outgoing Commission – are newcomers seeking office for the first time.
Eligible voters must meet at least one of the following criteria:
• Be listed on the Main & Qualifying list of players for the 2013 YONEX German Open or the YONEX All England Championships.
• Be ranked in the top 150 players in Women’s or Men’s Singles on Thursday 31 January 2013 (the ranking date for the Main and Qualifying draws for the Yonex German Open).
• Be ranked, with another player, in the top 95 pairs in Women’s, Men’s or Mixed Doubles as at Thursday 31 January 2013.
Voters must select one female candidate, one male candidate and a third candidate of either gender.
The three successful candidates will join other current Commission members – Lee Yong Dae (Korea); Emma Mason (Scotland; Vice Chair); and Rodrigo Pacheco (Peru) as well as ex-officio member, Pedro Yang (Guatemala). The six members are selected on a rotational basis, with half the panel having elections every two years. One of the newly-constituted Commission’s first duties will be to determine a Chair and that individual will sit on the BWF Council.
For further information on the upcoming BWF Athletes’ Commission election, including profiles of the eight candidates, click here.
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The BWF Athletes’ Commission was established in 2008. Its purpose is to represent the views of athletes to the BWF Council. The Chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission is a full voting member of the Council and has the responsibility of advising the Council on matters relevant to athletes.
The BWF Athletes’ Commission is guided by the Athletes’ Commission Charter.
Text by Gayle Alleyne
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