SINGAPORE: World number five Peter Gade yesterday urged badminton players to do more to promote the sport as several top stars missed press commitments ahead of this week’s Singapore Open.
The veteran Dane, 34, said players and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) needed to “raise the bar” but refused to criticise Chinese great Lin Dan, who headed the list of media no-shows.
Lin cried off with a stomach ache, while Chinese head coach Li Yongbo also failed to show, as did reigning men’s champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro and 2004 Olympic gold-medalist Taufik Hidayat.
Five Chinese players did front journalists, but they sat stony-faced and gave such glib answers that disgruntled media asked whether they disliked giving press conferences.
And women’s title-holder Saina Nehwal of India arrived so late that the press conference room was closed and she had to be interviewed in the hotel foyer.
“I don’t know if Lin Dan has got stomach problems or not. It’s not up to me, I don’t know. I’m not the media so I don’t work with him regarding these matters,” said Gade.
“Of course in some cases you can say that the players also need to promote themselves better and the BWF needs to do that in an even more professional level,” he added.
“I know they’re doing the best we can but still we need to raise the bar in my opinion.” — AFP