Rexy Urges Reform in Badminton Medical Treatment Rules

National coaching director Rexy Mainaky has urged the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to revise its rules on medical treatment during tournaments.

This call for change follows an incident at the China Open. During the tournament, the referee permitted local medical personnel to treat Chinese player Ren Xiangyu. He sustained a back injury towards the end of the first game against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin. This decision contradicted BWF regulations that only allow authorized medical staff to treat players.

While Rexy acknowledged the unfairness of the situation, he suggested that the BWF should standardize player treatment across all tournaments. Specifically, he proposed allowing each country’s medical team to attend to their players. Furthermore, he referenced the tragic death of 17-year-old player Zhang Zhijie. This highlights the need for timely medical intervention and improved emergency protocols.

Additionally, Rexy noted that the referee’s decision might have been influenced by concerns over player safety in light of Zhang’s incident. He called for an inclusive discussion among national associations to ensure that all teams can provide medical support to their players. By doing so, the BWF would relieve itself of liability regarding player health.