The Chinese star shuttlers Chen Long, Lin Dan along with the Danish badminton player Anders Antonsen have showed displeasure towards Badminton World Federation’s existing draw system. The players have suggested the BWF to live stream the lottery in future.
However, when a leading daily raised the concern with the BWF, the global body backed their draw system terming the draws completely random. Additionally, the BWF assured they always have an eye on concerns of wrongdoing.
According to reports, the Chinese players are upset because 4 of 5 Chinese men’s singles players have been put in a four-player division, as a result of which the number of Chinese derbies has now gone to three in the first two rounds.
The Rio Olympics gold medalist Chen, who overcame his fellow compatriot Lin in the first round, was angry after the win. He criticized the draw system claiming he hasn’t seen such a draw in his career. He suggested the BWF to make the draws public.
Lin, who is considered to be one of the most successful players in the history of Badminton, emphasized that Chinese players playing each other in the opening round has happened many times in the past.
Echoing similar emotions, the Danish player Antonsen gave the example of Denmark’s pair of Mathias Boe/Mads Conrad-Petersen, who for the fourth time in past five consecutive tournaments, will lock horns with Han Chengkai/Zhou Haodong in the first round.
Antonsen said that such incidents are very unlikely in a lottery system. He also added that similar circumstances have occurred innumerable times over the years.
The world No. 5 called for physical, live streamed lotteries in each of the Super 500, 750, and 1000 tournament. He also demanded similar lottery system for Olympics and World Championships.
Soon after that, the BWF issued a statement which noted that BWF has been using the same program for many years and the system generates the draw in accordance with all significant BWF general competition regulations and specific tournament regulations, wherever appropriate.
