About Super Series

Badminton World Federation

Over the last decade or so, the Badminton World Federation (formerly known as the International Badminton Federation) has embarked on a series of changes that is slowly but surely giving the sport the recognition it truly deserves.

The introduction of the Super Series is just one of the major steps that the BWF hopes would generate more interest around the world.

The Super Series will consist of twelve Open events, which will each offer a minimum of US$ 200,000 in prize money. These will serve as the qualifiers for the season ending Super Series Finals.

The Finals itself will be the richest ever badminton tournament to be staged, offering a staggering US$ 500,000 in prize money for the first year.

The Proton Malaysian Open will be opening leg of the Super Series. Korea, England, Switzerland, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Denmark, France and Hong Kong will each host one leg of the Super Series with China being given the right to host two legs.

Only the top eight singles and top eight pairs in each category would qualify for the Finals. However, only a maximum of two players per country would qualify for the Finals.

The BWF, in its effort to make the Series more exciting, has also restricted the number of entries for each category in the twelve events to just 32, of which only four will come from qualifiers.

To further add to the excitement, BWF has also decided to do away with the national separation ruling in all the Super Series events. This means that two players from the same country can meet as early as the first round.

There will also be an increased television coverage worldwide, with each host required to guarantee the live telecast of the semi-final and finals.

In addition, Sports Media Promotions, who are the marketing agents for the Super Series, has made a deal with IEC in Sports to produce 36 episodes of the World of Badminton half hour programme that will be telecast in major markets throughout the world.

The Super Series is certainly going to elevate the profile of badminton to a more deserving status.

Hmm...only two players percountry. Very lame indeed. Thats why badminton will never be more popular than it is right now. Too country centris. Majorly, fans only like players who coming from his own country.

Example: Tennis master Cup series. Also like the Super Series final where only top 8 men and women players in tennis will enter. But it did not limit by country. At one time, this final event had 5 girls from Russia. Why not, that year 2004, Russia girl really dominating the girls tennis by winning 3 of 4 Grandslam.

And this lame rules from the BWF will not help at all. Only 2 percountry. China will suffered from MS, WS and WD. Meanwhile Indonesia and Malaysia will suffer from MD.

Like right now the SS standings in MS:

LD, BCL, CJ and CY in the top 8, but because of this very stupid rules, CJ and CY had to give their spot to Bonsak and Shoji Sato.

Okay, Bonsak is a good player but Shoji Sato? Does he deserved to be in final 8 more than Chen Jin and Chen Yu? What a laugh!!!!!

Well, in case BWF officials are reading this... I suggest that in the future [if the organizers and finances are ready], in order to globalize badminton let's have:

1. USA Super Series; Why? Why ask further on why we need the USA to make badminton BIG! :D [answer: for the $$$ $$$ $$$ to improve for everybody in badminton!] Together with Canada, the USA rules badminton in the American continent. Probably have the biggest badminton fan-base in the continent too. As for the money... Aiyaa, $200,000 for a sponsor like Wilson is nothing! :p [yeah, easy for me to say...] :p
2. Russia Super Series; a growing world power again, with a lot of increasing interest in badminton... Out of nowhere, in 2007 they have an International Challenge and a Grand Prix Gold tournament... :eek: Their future purchasing power for badminton gears should be huge! And badminton the a perfect indoor sport for East European countries with such looonggg winters... [note that their tennis stars mainly practice in Florida :p] Winning the Russia Super Series can be the dream for many Eastern Euro players! ;) Like winning the French Open tennis is the dream of many Western Europeans...
3. India Super Series; one billion people in the super sub-continent, growing economy... Pretty good badminton history too! I can't see why not! :D :cool:
4. Germany Super Series; substitute the Swiss Super Series to this one. Better population size and market. Germany, England, and France are the centers of Western Europe... Rule these 3, the rest like Spain, Italy, etc. will follow... ;)

Note: I arranged the list from number 1 to 4 in order of importance!

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In order to keep the number of Super Series to 12 like this year, then we have to drop some of the existing ones and relegate them to Grand Prix Gold status... :o But hey, if the prize money is high enough, the stars will come... like the Chinese Taipei Open... Still very exciting! Ok, here's the hard part... who should we drop?

1. One of the China Super Series, preferably China Masters... :D Why need two Super Series in China if you want to globalize the sport? :confused: The Chinese are already convinced that badminton is a good sport for them to follow... ;)
2. Singapore Super Series... Sorry neighbours... :o but the potential badminton growth in Singapore is just not big enough... Grand Prix Gold is good enough for Singapore laaah... ;)
3. Hong Kong Super Series... Same as Singapore... Hong Kong is way too small laaah... Sorry. :o
4. Swiss Super Series... Swiss is not as important as USA, Russia, India, and Germany. Sorry, but Swiss should be content with just Grand Prix Gold status, like Taipei, Thailand, Phillipine etc.... :D

Note: I also list this from 1 to 4 in order of non-importance... the 1st one who has to go is the yearly China Super Series 1 and China Super Series 2... It emphasized too much that badminton is a Chinese game... :(

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If we have a chance later, then we can talk about...
a. Africa Super Series; most probably held in South Africa, who so far have dominated African badminton this year, and they have the $$$... :D Other African countries are either not safe or do not have enough badminton strength to be interested in a Badminton Super Series... :p
b. Australia Super Series; the strongest badminton country in Oceania and surely have the $$$ capacity...

But the badminton playing population and overall popularity in these places are just too far away from getting a Super Series tournament. They should try some GP then move on to GP Gold tournaments to test the market first... :)

wow, i think you'd meet some very stiff opposition if you want to drop the SIN or HK open as SS. the china masters and swiss open i agree with, i don't really see the point of china hosting 2 SS events anyway.

wow, i think you'd meet some very stiff opposition if you want to drop the SIN or HK open as SS. the china masters and swiss open i agree with, i don't really see the point of china hosting 2 SS events anyway.

Yeah, I know... :p I just wrote the things above to make BWF consider the future badminton potential of:


Singapore and Hong Kong


vs.

Russia :eek: and India :eek:...


And again, I am not proposing that there should not be any big tournaments in the 2 cities... mmm... but I think GP Gold sounds good for them...

Singapore Grand Prix Gold... sounds good right? :D
Hong Kong Grand Prix Gold... also already sounds just right... :D
Taipei Grand Prix Gold...
Macau Grand Prix Gold...
Thailand Grand Prix Gold...
Phillipine Grand Prix Gold...
Australia Grand Prix Gold... [one day] :p
South Africa Grand Prix Gold... [one day] :p

These tournaments belong to the same club... ;) Right below the Superseries...

i agree india and america have to be exposed more to badminton if the sport is to gain further popularity worldwide, not too sure about russia though. they have some good players, but is the market substantial enough?

plus, it's freaking cold over there!! :)

i agree india and america have to be exposed more to badminton if the sport is to gain further popularity worldwide, not too sure about russia though. they have some good players, but is the market substantial enough?

plus, it's freaking cold over there!! :)
exactly..thats why badminton can be popular...indoor..indoor..even indoor tennis is popular in Rusia...:D

South Africa is small market also...poverty is below average...mostly only rich people ( mostly white) can play badminton....

I agree that we need USA SS

i agree india and america have to be exposed more to badminton if the sport is to gain further popularity worldwide, not too sure about russia though. they have some good players, but is the market substantial enough?

plus, it's freaking cold over there!! :)

From what I learned, Russia's badminton popularity is sky-rocketing! :cool:

exactly..thats why badminton can be popular...indoor..indoor..even indoor tennis is popular in Rusia...:D

Yup. Exactly, hau-ge! Because it is very cold [outside] in Russia, thus badminton shall become popular due to badminton's [indoor] nature! :D

South Africa is small market also...poverty is below average...mostly only rich people ( mostly white) can play badminton....


Yeah, I think Africa needs a GP for now... and then a GP Gold tournament a bit later... Improve badminton's visibility first before doing any Super Series there. Soccer also chose the USA and then Asia as their 'growth' potential first... Africa comes later... ;) In 2010, Africa will get to host a Soccer World Cup [for the first time ever]... ;) So maybe Africa can get a badminton Super Series in 2030 or something...


I agree that we need USA SS


I think as a LA resident, I guess you shall also suggest that the USA Super Series be held in LA eh? :p Fair enough! Either LA or SF laaahhh... :) NY already has the tennis US Open etc... Too clutered there.

Also, I suspect the largest badminton playing community in the USA are in LA and SF... :cool: [though I have no data to support my suspicion] Other big US cities... mmm... I lived in Chicago and visited other big cities like Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, etc... mmm... I didn't see the badminton culture developing there yet...

i agree india and america have to be exposed more to badminton if the sport is to gain further popularity worldwide, not too sure about russia though. they have some good players, but is the market substantial enough?




Hi Dreamzz,

I just want to add in another point of view. :):):)

Coming from Malaysia, I know there are millions of Badminton players in Malaysia.

Now staying in Australia, I have learned there are thousands of players here.

But in both BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) and BA (Badminton Australia), correct me if I am wrong, the number of registered Badminton players are mainly their concern.

And also BWF (Badminton World Federation), correct me if I am wrong again, registered players affiliated with their registered National Associations throughout the world are their concern.

However, BWF is trying to establish more Associations in many countries, eg, in Eastern Europe, Africa, America, etc...

But I am not here to criticise/praise BWF. It is just a fact that BWF is paying more attention to National Associations registered with them, and not to countries with most number of recreational/social players.

To my knowledge, the UK has the highest number of registered players. And that is why the All-England is so big in the BWF Tournament Calendar.

So reading previous posts here, I am not surprised if Switzerland has more registered players than Germany, and Hong Kong has more registered players than India, etc...

Perhaps, what I have posted here could open a can of worms, for us to discuss. :):):)

Cheers... chris@ccc

But I am not here to criticise/praise BWF. It is just a fact that BWF is paying more attention to National Associations registered with them, and not to countries with most number of recreational/social players.


National Associations with more registered players pays more to the BWF warchest and in return gets more votes [and voice] in the BWF. Naturally the ones in charge of BWF have to pay a lot of attention to the de-facto 'majority shareholders'...

From what I understand, BWF in some ways are like the United Nations... China, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, England, and Denmark are sort of like the de-facto permanent member of the security-council in the BWF... :p Although none of them have veto rights or anything, but their voices have to be heard! ;)

For further details, please read the BWF statutes... :cool:

I agreed that Russia now have more good players. Indonesia, Malaysia, China must be awared with this.... In the other hand, I am more happy that badminton now will surround with 'model' faces and good looking players....then they also can promote badminton indirectly when they become the model such as Maria Sharapova... It is good, isn't it?

In my humble opinion, the Super Series list in the year 2020 for badminton, the global #1 racket game:

China SS [just one SS please, not two] :rolleyes:
India SS :cool:
Korea SS
Indonesia SS
Malaysia SS

Australia SS :cool:
All England SS
Denmark SS
France SS
Russia SS :cool:

USA SS :cool:
South Africa SS :cool:



Supported by:

Swiss Gold GP
Germany Gold GP
Brazil Gold GP
Nigeria Gold GP
Egypt Gold GP

Thailand Gold GP
Philippine Gold GP
Macau Gold GP
Hong Kong Gold GP
Singapore Gold GP

China Gold GP [formerly China SS 2]
Japan Gold GP
Iran Gold GP
Argentina Gold GP
Mexico Gold GP



And also:

Turkey GP
Spain GP
Italy GP
Poland GP
Dutch GP

India GP [if the SS is in Kolkota, then maybe the GP in Mumbay] ;)
Iraq GP
Dubai GP
Sri Lanka GP
Pakistan GP

Vietnam GP
Myanmar GP
Cambodia GP
Indonesia GP [if the SS is in Jakarta, the GP should be in Surabaya]
Brunei GP

Kenya GP
Morocco GP
Zaire GP
Russia GP [if the SS is in Moscow, the GP should be in St. Petersburg]
Ukraine GP

Canada GP
Peru GP
USA GP [if the SS is in Los Angeles, then the GP might be in New York]
New Zealand GP
Australia GP [if the SS is in Sydney, then maybe the GP in Perth]

That would be a very long calendar for players and officials :eek:

My opinions:
1 Major Team Event in May each year
Thomas and Uber Cup (qualifying tourney in Feb)
Sudirman Cup

3 Major Slams+1 World Championships (July) in non-Olympic years:
March: All England -- history and prestige
September: Japan -- somehow, I get the feeling that Japan Open has a pretty good reputation
November: USA -- badminton need exposure in USA for it to be a global sport

12 Super Series events, organized as back-to-back event:
January: Malaysia and Korea
March: Swiss
April: Hong Kong and China
June: Singapore and Indonesia
July/August: India and Russia
September: Middle-East country (rich)
October: Denmark and France

12 Grand Prix Golds:
January: Vietnam
February: Australia and New Zealand
March: German
April: Macau and Chinese Taipei
May/June: Philippines and Thailand
July/August: Ukraine
September: Qatar
October: Poland
November: Canada or South Africa

and various GP events

That would be a very long calendar for players and officials :eek:

My opinions:
1 Major Team Event in May each year
Thomas and Uber Cup (qualifying tourney in Feb)
Sudirman Cup

3 Major Slams+1 World Championships (July) in non-Olympic years:
March: All England -- history and prestige
September: Japan -- somehow, I get the feeling that Japan Open has a pretty good reputation
November: USA -- badminton need exposure in USA for it to be a global sport

12 Super Series events, organized as back-to-back event:
January: Malaysia and Korea
March: Swiss
April: Hong Kong and China
June: Singapore and Indonesia
July/August: India and Russia
September: Middle-East country (rich)
October: Denmark and France

12 Grand Prix Golds:
January: Vietnam
February: Australia and New Zealand
March: German
April: Macau and Chinese Taipei
May/June: Philippines and Thailand
July/August: Ukraine
September: Qatar
October: Poland
November: Canada or South Africa

and various GP events

Ha ha ha, I know what I wrote was one looongg list of tournaments... :p In particular, the GP Gold and GP list was meant to illustrate a globalized sport, not reality... :p

I also know why Japan Open seems prestigious to you, it is probably the longest running tournament in Asia [that I know of]... Our version of the All England, actually... ;) So, you have a pretty good point on making it a major slam...

As for the schedule, I agree that BWF should keep the back-to-back schedule... :)

IBF should come up with more money events , like SS should be at least US$ 300 K and increase GP level with Minimum US$ 120 to 200 K ( for examples) and find a way to encourage more full time players...honestly not many European can afford to earn a living just playing badminton...even Martin or Peter has another job to suport them......it is sad but true.....It will be long way to get Badminton into Tennis level....more individual not a team sport....

In 2020, the prize money need to reach:
US$ 1,000,000 for a SS
US$ 500,000 for a Gold GP
US$ 250,000 for a GP
US$ 125,000 for an International Challenge
US$ 50,000 for an International Series
US$ 10,000 for a Future Series

In 2020, the prize money need to reach:
US$ 1,000,000 for a SS
US$ 500,000 for a Gold GP
US$ 250,000 for a GP
US$ 125,000 for an International Challenge
US$ 50,000 for an International Series
US$ 10,000 for a Future Series

This certainly looks a lot like the Tennis model, with SS=Masters Series. Grand Slams will of course offer the most prize money.

Now, will u run for the BWF president by then :p;):rolleyes: ??

This certainly looks a lot like the Tennis model, with SS=Masters Series. Grand Slams will of course offer the most prize money.

Now, will u run for the BWF president by then :p;):rolleyes: ??

If I do run, will you become my liutenant? ;):rolleyes:

If I do run, will you become my liutenant? ;):rolleyes:

Hmm....can be considered hehe.....:p;)

Tennis is so successful in running 2-3 parallel Opens at the same time. Only during the Masters Series and Grand Slams that all the players will play in. Otherwise, players will select the Opens that will increase their chances of winning it.

The same model can be applied to badminton, therefore the need of GP Golds and GP events (in fact, as many as u can think of). Super Series might need to be limited to at most 10 (in fact, one more than tennis) to avoid a burnout schedule.

The running of parrallel GPs in close locations will also benefit players so that they can choose which events to participate in in order to prevent the risk of going out early, esp those junior and European players.

Example:
January:
In preparation for the Malaysia and Korea Super Series to be held let's say in Week 3 and 4, players can choose to compete in:
Week 1 -- Vietnam or Brunei GP
Week 2 -- Japan (Osaka) or China (Chengdu) GP

IBF should come up with more money events...






In 2020, the prize money need to reach:
US$ 1,000,000 for a SS
US$ 500,000 for a Gold GP
US$ 250,000 for a GP
US$ 125,000 for an International Challenge
US$ 50,000 for an International Series
US$ 10,000 for a Future Series






This certainly looks a lot like the Tennis model, with SS=Masters Series. Grand Slams will of course offer the most prize money.




Before we get to 2020... Let us tackle some questions/problems facing Badminton at the present moment, as discussed in this thread located at:
Badminton Prestige (http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49572)

***

Tennis is so successful in running 2-3 parallel Opens at the same time. Only during the Masters Series and Grand Slams that all the players will play in. Otherwise, players will select the Opens that will increase their chances of winning it.

The same model can be applied to badminton, therefore the need of GP Golds and GP events (in fact, as many as u can think of). Super Series might need to be limited to at most 10 (in fact, one more than tennis) to avoid a burnout schedule.

The running of parrallel GPs in close locations will also benefit players so that they can choose which events to participate in in order to prevent the risk of going out early, esp those junior and European players.

Example:
January:
In preparation for the Malaysia and Korea Super Series to be held let's say in Week 3 and 4, players can choose to compete in:
Week 1 -- Vietnam or Brunei GP
Week 2 -- Japan (Osaka) or China (Chengdu) GP

If we downsize the Superseries to only 10, then... I will pick... mmm...

China
Indonesia
Korea
Malaysia
India

Japan
Russia
All England
Denmark
USA

:D
Sorry got to drop somebody... I choose to keep the traditional badminton powerhouse countries... ;) I cannot imagine a badminton world without China-Indonesia-Korea-Malaysia-Denmark and an All England... :p I can forgo Australia and South Africa... GP Golds are good enough for them...

And yes, GP and GP Golds can be run at a parallel... ;) Australia GP Gold and France GP Gold can run at the same time...

If we downsize the Superseries to only 10, then... I will pick... mmm...

China
Indonesia
Korea
Malaysia
India

Japan
Russia
All England
Denmark
USA


Agreed, as in my previous post, I will stick to having 3 Grand Slams (promoting All England, Japan and USA).

As for Super Series, need to have at least the following:
China
Indonesia
Malaysia
Korea
Denmark
-- 5 traditional power houses of badminton.

France
Swiss
Singapore/Hong Kong

India
Russia
-- 2 new forces to be reckoned with

We just love badminton-fiction don't we? :p

Why we are expecting those well developed country to get very interested in badminton? What is the point just to get money and money? Those countries has dominated in other many major sports. How about us in the south east asia? Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, etc? Any other sport than badminton? None. So how to make it prestige, it is these countries responsible, nobody else. To make the tourney more money prize, ask these country to sacrifice more money , ask those who corrupt the gov money to give some of it. What is 500,000 US, compare to the gold in olympics the only countries like us can get. Whats up with US, indeed this country to have everything, but i dont think it is the best thing to pampers this country to like badminton, then take over it and in order to make badminton more prastige.

As conclusion, its not other country responsibilty but it is ours.

Why we are expecting those well developed country to get very interested in badminton? What is the point just to get money and money?

In short, without the richer countries paying attention, we won't get media time and coverage, no sponsorship, no money, no prosperity, not a good future... Money is not the end goal! But it is crucial for a better tomorrow for badminton! ;)

Whose responsibility? Overall in this planet, it is BWF's main responsibility... At the local or county level, then we can play some role... ;) I do take some responsibility of badminton development within my capability. I encourage everyone who loves badminton to do so too... ;)

In 2020, the prize money need to reach:
US$ 1,000,000 for a SS
US$ 500,000 for a Gold GP
US$ 250,000 for a GP
US$ 125,000 for an International Challenge
US$ 50,000 for an International Series
US$ 10,000 for a Future Series

For the Men singles tournament :-)

/Twobeer

P.S. I think we need separate tournaments and to get rid of total-price money pool for all events (MS,MD,XD,WS,WD)... D.S.

It wont happen, if BWF are still run by bunch of jokers.

I think those "Inner Circle" countries, ie the so-called badminton powerhouses as espoused by Krisna should themselves have a good badminton infrastructure to provide badminton fans, both local and worldwide with superb entertainment, free from encumbrances.

Big countries with big populations may not necessarily be the obvious choice, otherwise the US, Canada, Russia, India and some others should now be in the SS list, not Singapore, not Hong Kong.

The development of the badminton game in any particular country and how it has been improved and upgraded over the years is an important factor. The active participation rate as well as those, including the government and sponsors, who support the game on the sidelines are crucial. We have witnessed so many incidents of mismanagement and disagreements in both the international and national bodies that only retard the growth.

How is it that some big countries are not involved in this game, which has become an Olympic sport? Why are small countries like Singapore and Hong Kong included in the SS? This should evoke some interesting insights.

In our globalized world, relevant information must be readily availabe and can be speedily disseminated to the world. We have found that even now information on badminton tournaments and results may be lacking because those in charge are not providing the service to get more people interested.

The world should be our indoor stadium and in that sense the size of a country in terms of geography and population do not matter that much. A good infrastructure with an efficient, transparent and non-corruptible management, TV and internet networks that can link and interact with the remotest part of the globe can generate and develop interest.

So to say that Russia should be included in the SS because of its size and position in the UN does not hold much water. But if Russia has developed a keen interest in the game and has a long term programme to produce champions, that would be a different matter. Right now it would appear that Russia is still in its adolescent years in badminton terms.

Conversely, if Indonesia, Malaysia or Denmark should slacken in their badminton development programme and thier players no longer occupy the top positions, they may have to give up their seats.

Therefore, being on the SS list is not a matter of right. It is a privilege that must be earned. ;)

Also BWF is trying to get more umpires for SS as well.....pls read them it is quite interesting that they keep mentioning that it is hard to get neutral umpires for recent SS as reported in their website ( under BWF targetting Africa /ocenia umpires)