NEW DELHI, April 19 (PTI): A new rule which makes wearing skirts on court mandatory for female shuttlers has created a furore in India with former and current players saying such an “unfair” move could discourage girls from taking up the sport. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has introduced a new dress code, which requires all female shuttlers to wear skirts from May 1. Players may continue to wear shorts if they wish to but it has to be underneath a skirt.
India’s most successful doubles player Jwala Gutta and her doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa and a few like them prefer wearing skirts on court but even they feel it should not be made compulsory.
BWF’s new rule is a step to glamourise badminton like tennis and Jwala said though she is all for boosting the glamour quotient, wearing skirts should not be mandatory as it might affect a player’s freedom.
“I have always been comfortable in skirts but forcing players to wear them is not right. A player can wear a skirt if she is comfortable but making it mandatory is not right,” Jwala told PTI.
“Players come from different background and different countries, some of the countries are pretty conservative and have different culture, so some players might not like the idea........
NEW DELHI, April 19 (PTI): A new rule which makes wearing skirts on court mandatory for female shuttlers has created a furore in India with former and current players saying such an “unfair” move could discourage girls from taking up the sport. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has introduced a new dress code, which requires all female shuttlers to wear skirts from May 1. Players may continue to wear shorts if they wish to but it has to be underneath a skirt.
India’s most successful doubles player Jwala Gutta and her doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa and a few like them prefer wearing skirts on court but even they feel it should not be made compulsory.
BWF’s new rule is a step to glamourise badminton like tennis and Jwala said though she is all for boosting the glamour quotient, wearing skirts should not be mandatory as it might affect a player’s freedom.
“I have always been comfortable in skirts but forcing players to wear them is not right. A player can wear a skirt if she is comfortable but making it mandatory is not right,” Jwala told PTI.
“Players come from different background and different countries, some of the countries are pretty conservative and have different culture, so some players might not like the idea........
I think BCCI will try its best to get Andy Flower on board. However if this doesn't happen as per BCCI's wish then Stephen Fleming stands a good chance of becoming the coach. Only one Indian is capable of being the coach of Team India and he is Sandeep Patil, but I don't think that BCCI will offer him the post. The support staff should consist of Wasim Akram or Allan Donald as Bowling coach and Jonty Rhodes or even our very own Robin Singh as the specialist fielding coach. However for me its between Andy Flower & Stephen Fleming. Note: Anyone notice one similarity between the two successful foreign coaches of Team India that they kept very low profile about themselves and both of them were left handed opening batsmen during their playing days. Hey that reminds me that Justin Langer is also in the race for coaching Team India again another left handed opening batsmen. But BCCI should learn fron Greg Chappal...oops sorry Chappel and keep the AUSSIE'S away from this post.
Re: Havent they seen how eng performed in this world cup?
by Rajan S on Apr 19, 2011 05:42 PM
We need a bishen singh bedi also to train bhajji. These days bhajji is a bowling like a slow medium pacer firing the balls in to batsman's pads even if he is a no: 11 batsman.He is worried of getting hit
