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)