KUALA LUMPUR — The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has yet again come under fire for its handling of on-court medical emergencies, as another athlete was left to endure agonising pain before receiving assistance during the Malaysia Super 100 semi-finals at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara today.
In a heart-wrenching moment, Malaysia’s Ng Qi Xuan collapsed onto the court, screaming in pain after mislanding during a jumping smash.
She and her partner, Yap Rui Chen, had been just points away from victory, leading 22-20, 20-18 against fellow Malaysians Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing. But the match came to a devastating halt as Qi Xuan clutched her knee in agony.
Despite her visible distress, the referee hesitated, delaying critical medical intervention. Only after several painful moments did the medical team respond, carrying Qi Xuan off on a stretcher.
Initial observations suggest that her right kneecap had shifted from its original position.
The incident echoes a similar tragedy from just four months ago at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Yogyakarta, where a delayed medical response to China’s Zhang Zhijie is suspected to have contributed to his untimely death, sparking widespread outrage.
According to BWF regulations, on-court medical personnel are under the referee’s authority, a protocol that has repeatedly drawn criticism for slowing down urgent responses.
Pei Kee and Mei Xing, who advanced to the final following the abrupt end of the match, expressed deep sorrow for Qi Xuan’s injury.
🎙️ Pei Kee-Mei Xing wish former teammate Qi Xuan a speedy recovery#BAMMalaysiaSUPER1002024#GPSKBS#GemilangkanLagi#BadmintonMalaysia#DemiMalaysia pic.twitter.com/558sisHj3Z
— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) October 19, 2024
“I feel very sad for them, especially since they were leading and so close to the last point. Seeing this is truly painful. We wish for a speedy recovery for Qi Xuan in the future.
“I believe we have a responsibility to make a strong comeback as quickly as we can,” said Mei Xing.
The situation raises serious questions about BWF’s ability to prioritise player safety in high-stakes matches, with repeated failures to provide timely medical care.
Tomorrow, Pei Kee and Mei Xing will take on top-seeded Nicole Gonzales Chan and Yang Chu Yun from Chinese Taipei in the final.
Also advancing to the final is Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair, Low Hang Yee and Ng Eng Cheong, who secured their spot by defeating Wu Hsuan-Yi and Ye Hong Wei of Chinese Taipei, 21-19, 21-17. — October 19, 2024