ABC wants IBF HQ move to Singapore

Zakki Hakim The Jakarta Post Jakarta

The Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) will propose the headquarters of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) be moved from England to Singapore to save operational cost.

ABC's Secretary General Datuk Punch Gunalan said in a media conference here on Saturday that the proposal was necessary with regard that the relocation could save operational cost up to US$800,000 each year.

"We have a commitment from the Singapore Government that it will provide a place free of charge," the Malaysian said, while using the occasion to also introduce South Korean Kang Young-jung as the new president of the confederation.

Gunalan said that cost of human resources in Singapore was far lower compared to that in England.

He said that the reduce in operational cost would enable more money to be allocated on developing badminton.

He said ABC would propose the relocation in next year's IBF congress held in Jakarta, coinciding with the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup championships.

ABC, he said, was confident that the majority of the IBF members would agree with the proposal.

Meanwhile, ABC's vice president Sulistyanto said that ABC would also propose to establish a special committee stationed near International Olympic Committee headquarters in Zurich.

The committee, he said, would be responsible to ensure that Badminton was still enlisted as the competed event in Olympics.

Another ABC plan disclosed during the media conference was about the proposal to assign badminton envoys with the task of further promoting badminton across the world.

2000 Olympic silver medalist Hendrawan, who has just retired from badminton, is a candidate from Indonesia.