Record Number of Women Gain Seats on BWF Council, Surpasses IOC Recommendation

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced that a record six women now sit on the BWF Council following elections on the weekend.

Twenty-three per cent of the 26-seat Council is now comprised of women, troche which surpasses the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendation of at least 20%.

The line-up includes two IOC members, two world champions, two vice presidents of badminton continental confederations and the Chair of the BWFAthletes’ Commission.

The women Council members are; Dagmawit Girmay Berhane (Ethiopia; Vice President of Africa Confederation); Geraldine Brown (Australia; Vice President of Oceania Confederation); Li Lingwei (China), Emma Mason (England; Athletes’ Commission Chair), Nora Perry (England) and Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe).

Outgoing Chair of the Women in Badminton Commission (WIB), Nora Perry described the results as “beyond our expectations” and vowed the women “will continue to ensure there is equal opportunity for women in badminton”.