Source: REUTERS/Issei Kato
[Saba Sports News] The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is considering a series of key reforms to be implemented from 2027 onwards, including extending tournament durations and significantly increasing prize money, with the aim of benefiting badminton athletes globally. Many independent players have expressed approval, stating, “It’s about time these positive developments happened for the players.” Of particular interest to players is the increase in prize money, which is viewed as a significant step forward. Currently, badminton players earn much less compared to other racket sports such as tennis. In light of this, the BWF plans to increase tournament prize money from 2027 to 2030. For instance, the All England Open, a top-tier Super 1000 event, is expected to see its prize money increase from 1.45 million to 2 million. While $2 million isn’t a large amount given it will be shared among all five categories of players, it still represents progress. Additionally, the BWF intends to extend the schedule of Super 1000 events from six days to 11 days, hoping that these new formats will generate more excitement and anticipation among fans, making the tournaments more entertaining.