New Delhi: Top Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has slammed the BWF for a ‘cramped’ international calendar, which hardly leaves any time for players to recover from injuries or be at their best at important tournaments.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has made it mandatory for top shuttlers to play at least 12 tournaments in a revamped schedule for 2018.
“Next year’s scheduled by BWF is too crammed, it is not right for the top players. I need more time to get the best out of me. I can’t play back-to-back events. I can just participate but can’t win,” said Nehwal on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) here, Wednesday.
“After the PBL we have three tournaments. Again before the World Championships there are three Super Series events, so I fail to understand why BWF decided to go for such a schedule. It will be too tiring, too challenging. I don’t have any answers. It will come down to fitness and my priority will be fitness,” she added.
Saina also stated that had she headed the BWF, show would have planned things in a manner which would have benefitted the players.
“If BWF is trying to make badminton like tennis then they should have just 4-5 tournaments like Grand Slams with more money and coverage. If I were BWF president that is what I would have done. I am happy with more prize money but so many tournaments, I don’t know,” pointed out the former World No.1.
“With the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships next year, you can’t challenge yourself mentally and physically every two weeks. There should be lot more time given to players so that if someone is carrying an injury that can be sorted but there is no time at all,” added Saina.
Olympic champion and two-time World Championships gold medallist Carolina Marin also echoed similar voices. “The schedule next year is going to be crazy. After PBL we will have three tournaments and during the season we will have so many tournaments, it would be tough for all the players,” asserted the Spaniard.
Press Trust of India
