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QINGDAO: Female players will earn more money wearing skirts or dresses, a top badminton official said on Sunday, with a compulsory but controversial new ruling set to come into force on June 1.
Paisan Rangsikitpho, deputy president of the governing Badminton World Federation (BWF), said: “The reason we want the skirt regulation is to promote women's events, which are getting less and less popular.
“The bottom line is: they could earn more sponsorship and more money.”
The new rule requiring women to wear skirts has prompted fierce criticism from players of several countries, including China – where Rangsikitpho was speaking on the sidelines of the Sudirman Cup – and Indonesia.
On the first day of action at the mixed team world championships, several players wore skirts even though the ruling has not come into effect yet.
“They, including the Indonesian players, looked beautiful dressed up today,” Rangsikitpho said.
The issue is likely to come up for more heated discussion at the BWF annual general meeting on Saturday.
