KUALA LUMPUR – The younger generation has always seen tennis and football as high-paying sports.
However, now with the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) decision to increase the prize money for the World Tour Finals by US$500,000 (RM2,333,245.90), it will help boost the sport globally.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky said that increasing the prize money proves to the younger generation that there is a future in badminton.
“Everyone looks at tennis; they see a big star like Roger Federer make so much money and wonder, how come?
“He is getting paid based on how good he is because it is worth it. If they (Aaron-Wooi Yik) get paid US$200,000, it is worth it because they are playing well.
“It is also good for the young generation to see because they will go, ‘Oh, badminton players also get paid a lot’, and this will make them see that there is a future in the sport,” said Rexy.
This year’s World Tour Finals will see the best in the world battle it out for bragging rights and also to have their respective share of the overall prize money of US$2.5 million.
For Malaysia, the men’s doubles pair of Aaron Chia-Wooi Yik and the mixed doubles pair of Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei will be gunning for it.
Meanwhile, Wooi Yik said that the BWF’s decision to significantly increase prize money will help bring badminton closer to sports like tennis and football, which are currently the two most popular sports in the world.
“This is good all around for the world to know the sport of badminton.
“Athletes in tennis and football are more famous. If you go to the Olympics, you can see that the profile of badminton is still so small.
“So, this can help promote the sport to new fans and motivate players to increase the profile of the sport,” said the 25-year-old.
At the same time, his partner, Aaron, said the US$210,000 on the table for the winner of the men’s doubles category is good motivation for players to give their best efforts on the court.
“You can see the prize money in tennis is so much more than in badminton, so this significant increase will help boost players to do better.”
“Playing in China, the prize money is always high, and we want to win it. I want to bring home some year-end ang pow,” he said at a press conference held at Akademi Badminton Malaysia today.
But mixed doubles player Ee Wei does not think about money.
“The money will come if I play well. I don’t think about it,” she said bluntly. – December 8, 2023