KUALA LUMPUR — How long is too long for a medical team to attend to an injured badminton player on the court?
This is a question the Badminton World Federation (BWF) should address with an updated standard operating procedure (SOP), especially as the sport evolves with faster gameplay, increasing the risk of player injuries.
There have been instances where some players misuse injury timeouts to stall the game during critical moments, forcing the BWF to follow strict protocols before allowing medical intervention.
However, it is equally important to recognise that some athletes genuinely require immediate attention, especially when in visible distress.
The issue was brought to the forefront during the Malaysia Super 100 semi-final, where women’s doubles player Ng Qi Xuan sustained a serious knee injury.
Spectators at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara, felt the BWF referee was slow to respond, delaying the medical team’s arrival to assist the 24-year-old player.
However, in an interview with Scoop, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh offered a different view.
“We always prioritise player safety, well-being, and social welfare. At BAM, we will continue to advocate for these matters because the players are our assets. Without them, there’s no badminton,” Kenny explained.
“When it comes to safety, we need to define what constitutes ‘fast’ or ‘slow.’ I was informed that it took just 16 seconds (for treatment to begin after Qi Xuan’s injury). So, is that slow or fast? To me, that’s fast enough,” said Kenny, who is also a BWF Council Member.
This incident highlights a broader concern about the responsiveness of medical teams during badminton matches.
Last month, national coaching director Rexy Mainaky criticised the BWF for inconsistencies in enforcing regulations regarding medical treatment.
Rexy pointed to the case of Chinese doubles player Ren Xiangyu, who was allowed treatment by a chiropractor at the side of the court during the China Open final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, a breach of BWF rules that only permit certified medical personnel.
Calls for a review of the BWF’s medical SOP also intensified in July, following the death of Chinese junior player Zhang Zhijie during the Asian Junior Badminton Championships, amid claims of delayed on-court treatment.
Although the BWF has since begun reassessing its medical SOP, no updates have been issued in the four months since the tragic incident. — October 21, 2024