IBF top job candidacy turns into a rift
IBF top job candidacy turns into a rift
JAKARTA (JP): The vice president of the Asian Badminton
Confederation (ABC), Leo Chandra Wiranata, said on Tuesday the
confederation was not united in its support of Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah of Brunei for the International Badminton Federation
(IBF) presidency.
There are two other candidates running for the IBF presidency:
IBF vice president Justian Suhandinata of Indonesia and ABC
president Korn Dabbaransi of Thailand. Dabbaransi is also a
former deputy prime minister of Thailand.
"ABC acknowledges Justian's nomination and fully understands
that he also has supporters of his run for the presidency," said
Leo, who is also the secretary-general of the Badminton
Association of Indonesia.
"There has been no official statement saying that Asia solely
supports the sultan's candidacy," he added.
AFP news agency reported on Sunday that the confederation's
secretary, Punch Gunalan of Malaysia, claimed ABC and the
European Badminton Union were backing Bolkiah for the presidency,
guaranteeing him more than half of the required votes.
"As a matter of fact, several strong Asian badminton countries
with five and three votes each have committed their support for
Justian," said Leo.
"Australia, several European countries and even the Pan-
American executive committee have also expressed their support
for Justian."
The election will take place in Seville, Spain, in June. The
number of votes given each country is determined by the number of
national shuttlers in the country.
"With three candidates from Southeast Asian countries, IBF
members will get to choose the candidate of their preference, be
it a former bureaucrat, an affluent personality or a candidate
with extensive experience in the sport," said Leo.
"Most international sports federations, however, elect a
president with an extensive background in the sport."
He also said the IBF presidency was not a suitable position
for the sultan. "The most suitable position for him is as one of
the IBF's honorary lifetime vice presidents, considering the
sultan's position as a dignified ruler honored by his subjects."
"What would happen if a country was disappointed with the
sultan's performance and openly criticized him. It would be
unpleasant for the people of Brunei.
"Those who nominated him (the sultan) have, intentionally or
not, placed the sultan in a bad position," he said.
Leo also said he found all the maneuverings taking place
around the election suspicion.
"ABC is indeed weird. Punch said (ABC) fully supported the
sultan but ABC's president is also running for the presidency,"
he said. "India and Sri Lanka withdrew their support for Justian
and backed the sultan at the last minute."
"Certain parties are asking Justian to withdraw from the
election, which goes against the spirit of sportsmanship. We must
fight to the end as good sportsmen. Losing or winning is another
matter," he said. (nvn)