BWF just posted their new World Tour hosts from 2023-2026, https://bwfworldtour.bwfbadminton.c.../18/bwf-world-tour-hosts-2023-2026-announced/ The biggest/most unexpected news is that Finland will host a Super 500 tournament What do you think about the new hosts?
Denmark gone down. Malaysia gone up. Korea seems down. Good for the smaller tournaments being upgraded. Is that a better level of interest due to French players getting better results?
Yes I like it, there are 19 SS tournaments. It will be good for players and prize money could even be pumped more on Usual (say 1Mill for S1000 could be more than that) 19SS + 1/2 team event + 1 WC/OG + 1 WorldTourFinal. Players can choose which to play or not but i mean Formula 1 has 22/23 races and are much more demanding sports. I cant see why everyone cant play in all the tournaments ( provided they dont play 2 disciplines) especially with Rally points. players are way pamperrd these days: the other day i watched Taufik vs KennethJonassen in TC2004 and that match goes to like 1 and a half hour and honestly, they still look fresh. I can imagine back in those days 1 hour is a normal time limit. Lets hope that SS is at least 400,000 for the Prizemoney.
Also think, days of playing 2 discipline is over. Currently only SSJ plays 2 disciplines. That said he isnt top 8 for Both but only one. Some can still play couple discipline like Popov but i guess thats just for extra income.
It's good news for badminton development to stage tournament there. Canada Open also has been upgraded into S500 (previously S100), just wow! S1000 will have four tournaments, adding MAS Open.
BWF World Tour 2023-2026 Host (30 tournaments) S1000 (4) : All England, CHN, INA, MAS S750 (6) : CHN, DEN, FRA, IND, JPN, SGP S500 (9) : AUS, CAN, FIN, HKG, INA, JPN, KOR, MAS, THA S300 (11) : FRA, ESP, GER (2), IND, KOR, NZL, SUI, THA, TPE, USA
China still the highest with China Open super 1000 and China master super 750. I really hope Indonesia Master get super 750 constantly, in 2021 Indonesia Master got super 750 but without crowd. Malaysia raise up, Malaysia Open became super 1000 and Malaysia Master super 500
More ranking tournaments means more professional players in the game. Considering the disruptions to the world economy recently, BWF have done very well. Or perhaps for corporate sponsors, badminton is one of the cheaper sports to sponsor that also has worldwide appeal. You will need an apprentice to help you out.
Hmmm... Japan has added a 500 to its extant 750. Also, nice to see Australia featuring at the 500 level. Just when I thought that Badminton was getting less and less exposure. This is great news!
I would lay down the red carpet for Momota, personally, when he comes to Delhi next year. Fret not! Any message for him?
Denmark goes back, not go down. Malaysia goes up, but Korea ??? BWF should adjust the law that force players to play compulsory tournaments
Yes 30 tournaments + 1 World Tour Final. Anyone knows will it still be China? I got the feeling it will be Thailand ( for the next 4 years)
Between super 1000 host China, Indonesia, England, or maybe Malaysia. There is probability for other countries like Thailand got super 1000 and World Tour Final
The upgrades of different tournaments are good. This is mainly due to the sports appeal to sponsorships though BWF should still do better regarding regulation, branding, scheduling, equipments and officials. Get rid of the requirements for top 10 to play all wt500 and above. Get rid of the rules that only federation can register players in tournaments. Put more emphasis on the most important tournaments in the calendar. Give money to the winner of the grade 1 tournaments. Use camera with 60 fps for recording. Provide hawkeye for all courts during grade 1 tournaments. Pay your officials! An official sleeping while officiating a match is a big NO NO!!! Otherwise, seems like badminton is going up in terms of diversity and, therefore, market shares. I would argue that this is because the upcoming young players are very diverse as well. The rise of LZJ, LS, LKY, ASY, the Frenchs, the victory of India in Thomas Cup and Korea in Uber Cup, combined with the stronghold names such as VA, Daddies, the very competitive WS and the persisting audience from INA. Hope that this builds a watching culture for the audiences all over the world and not just a temporary interest that wanes after the players retire or fail to achieve the highest prizes.
Totally agree with this. This perhaps was logical 15-20 years ago when associations would withhold players from tournaments for team tournaments but now with so many tournaments to choose from, it’s up to the players to decide their schedule to their best position with respect to the rankings, their points accumulated, their personal sponsors and their health (which includes mental health).
