Should LD be given wild card again? http://www.badzine.net/features/editorial-should-lin-dan-be-given-a-wild-card-no-and-yes/29218/
Good article by Raphy. Whatever the decision, it will be controversial. I wouldn't give it as he has already had one wild card in the past AND he hasn't played any other tournaments. Then I again, I am not BWF. Giving two wild cards consecutively would send a message that it's OK not to play and rely on a wild card.
My main argument in favour is the defending champion should be entitled to it i.e. automatic qualification. Besides, for someone of Lin Dan's stature, there's everything to be said for it, the huge success of the previous WC is a testament to awarding him the wild card. The World Championships , unlike the Olympics which has other considerations as well (as I've stated elsewhere), is for all the best players in the world to compete and earn the title of world champion as the tournament implies. Whether Lin Dan is serious about his comeback and training hard for it or he is rusty for being inactive does not matter , as long as he is the reigning world champion, it is for everyone else to beat him for the crown. So, for me at least, without Lin Dan's participation, anyone who wins the world title doesn't count. The WC'14 status will become all the poorer for it unless it is Lin Dan's own wish not to defend his title. Simply, I fail to see why all the same reasons and arguments put forward for awarding Lin Dan the wild card previously should not apply this time; it just doesn't make sense. Just because he benefited once and therefore shouldn't be given the same benefit again, well, it doesn't hold water. Like I said, it is the 2014 WC and Lin Dan is the defending World Champion, it's for the rest, all the challengers, to wrest the crown from him.
Although I am not a fan of Lin Dan, but commercially, BWF needs Lin Dan for the World Championship to be a success. Just like last year, everyone wants to see LD vs LCW in the final.
no, because without LD LCW will have a great chance in winning, and i want to see LCW win tho i'm a fan of LD.
The only thing that concerns me is the value system of letting someone who is not supporting and engaged in the sport, just be granted wild cards willy-nilly because he's one of the best if not the best singles player ever. That to me smacks of opportunism ($$$) and elitism. One rule for Lin Dan, and another rule for everyone else. Would Chen Long or Lee Hyun Il get the same deal? Originally I was against the wild card, but on further reflection I think that because it's the World Championships and won it last year, I that for this tournament it should be granted. Any other tournaments? No. Long term for the scene it's more important to encourage professional engagement and participation rather than opportunism and elitism.
If he didn't win last year, then no. Otherwise, yes. Ask how many people want to see LD instead of some guys ranked 50 got crushed 5-21, 5-21 in the first round. How many tournaments other than badminton that a guy is not allowed to defend his/her title?
Simplistic argument. Those guys 'ranked 50' are the future of the sport and depend on experience to go up the rankings. And what if LD did lose early on last year? Would you then tell him this year "Sorry, go away, you lost too early"?
In professional sports, elitism,opportunism and fairness are secondary to what the organizer and sponsors want. As long as the player is a crowd-puller, can generate lots of media interests and publicity, increase viewership dramatically (advertisers' paradise) and thereby contribute significantly to promoting the sport, that's all that matters to them ultimately. But for me it is essential that the world championships are contested by all the very best players as befitting the title. As such for the reigning champion not to be defending his title and be challenged is to compromise and diminish the world title. This time round, I'm rooting for Chen Long to take the crown and that by toppling both Lin Dan and Lee CW. It's not good enough for me if he wins it by beating Lee CW alone. I won't wish Chen Long to win it and at the back of many people's minds is the thought 'That's because Lin Dan didn't play'; not a few will even voice it out loud.
You see, all the more reason Lin Dan should be granted the wild card as, otherwise , how is Chen Long or Lee CW going to taste the sweet victory of beating him ?