Source: REUTERS/VCG
[Saba Sports News] Malaysian badminton star Lai Shevon Jemie has already signed up for the upcoming Japanese Open. Recently, she posted on social media showing photos of her arrival in Japan, tagged at the official hotel location. However, this accommodation cost is causing her distress, as the single room rates are very high at 45,000 yen per night, and she needs to stay for more than one night. As a freestyle athlete without support from a national team, Lai has to bear all competition costs herself. Such an expense places significant financial pressure on her, increasing her competition costs and reducing profit margins. It could even impact her willingness and continuity in participating in competitions. This reflects the economic challenges faced by freestyle athletes in their careers. They need to balance competition, training, and life expenses within limited income. In my opinion, the exorbitant prices of the official hotels at tournaments may cause inconvenience and dissatisfaction for competitors, affecting their overall experience and evaluation of the event. Organizers should consider athletes’ actual needs and affordability when selecting hotels, offering reasonable and good value options.