BWF Athletes’ Commission gets 2 new members, still needs a Chair

The BWF Athletes’ Commission elections have been completed and Japan’s Shintaro Ikeda (pictured) and Koen Ridder of the Netherlands were the two men selected to join Tang Yuanting (pictured bottom) of China as new members.  Membership of the Commission involves staggered terms such that the other three members – Yuhan Tan (BEL), Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (DEN), and Greysia Polii (INA) – are still only halfway through their four-year terms.  As selection rules state that the top male and female vote-getters will be selected, Tang was in by acclamation as the only woman who stepped up this time.  In the voting, Ikeda and Ridder beat out Prakash Vijayanath (RSA) and Zhang Nan (CHN) as well as incumbent member Lee Yong Dae of Korea, who was vying for a second term.

In addition to Lee, the outgoing members are Emma Mason of Scotland and Rodrigo Pacheco of Peru.  As Mason was the Commission Chair, a new Chair will have to be selected once the Commission members have a chance to meet.  Mason held the post since March 2013, when then-incoming member Vittinghus also began his duties as Vice Chair of the Commission.