Kim Taek-gyu, president of the Badminton Korea Association, has vowed to address and reform the unfair practices and systems within the national team that An Se-young, the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist, highlighted.
In an interview with Yonhap News on Tuesday at the World Badminton Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 500 Korea Open in Mokpo Gymnasium, South Jeolla Province, Kim said, “We need to eliminate outdated practices from the previous generation. For instance, we must revise the regulations on national team selection, sponsorships, and contracts.”
He said “making the athletes’ national team experience more comfortable is the top priority.”
The regulations mentioned by Kim, which require revision, were precisely the issues raised by An. After winning her gold medal at the Paris Olympics, An 카지노 said, “Isn’t it too harsh to tell a player they can’t compete in the Olympics just because they leave the national team?”
Currently, retired national team players are allowed to participate in international competitions only if they are over 27 for women and 28 for men, a rule An suggested needs changing.
She also expressed a desire for financial rewards to be more accessible through badminton, even without sponsorship deals, saying, “I hope they don’t restrict sponsorships and contracts so much.”
This highlights the unfairness in the current national team management guidelines, which require players to use uniforms and equipment designated by the association and to cooperate actively with promotional activities when requested.