Badminton World Federation

The International Badminton Federation (or as it was changed in 2006) to The Badminton World Federation (which now hold their offices in Kuala Lumpur) was introduced in 1934 with Canada, Denmark, England, France, Netherlands, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales being its founding members.  In 1936 India joined the Federation that governs the sport internationally.     Today the International Badminton Federation has over 150 member nations.  The current president of the BWF is a man from South Korea named, Kang Young Joong who has been in this position since 2005.  He is the eighteenth man to hold this distinction.  The previous president was Korn Dabbaransi from Thailand.  There have been presidents from the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands and New Zealand, among others.  Each year the BWF hosts six tournaments: the Olympic Games in cooperation with International Olympic Committee, the World Championships, the World Junior Championships, the Thomas Cup, the Uber Cup, and the Sudirman Cup.  The World Grand Prix has been on hiatus since 2000, and the World Cup was suspended in 1997, but was revived in 2005 as an invitational tournament.

    The Thomas Cup is also known as the World Men's Team Competition.  They have taken place every two years since 1982, and previous to that they were being held every 3 years.  Of the twenty-five tournaments that have been held only Indonesia, China (the current title holder) and Malaysia have ever won the title. Canada has bee represented there just five times.  In 1939 Sir George Thomas donated the Thomas Cup, to be awarded to the men's singles International Champion.  Thomas was a British lawn tennis champion who switched to badminton and won over 90 titles in his 24 year career.  Thomas was also the first president of the IBF.  In 1949 the Thomas Cup became the men's world team championship.

    The Uber Cup is the World Team Championships for women.  It follows the same format as the men's competition, and has merged with the men to be played at the same time at the same venue.  In twenty-one tournaments held, China has won eleven times, Japan five times and Indonesia and the United States have each been victorious three times.  Canada has appeared nine times at the tournament but has failed to make it into the final four.  The Uber Cup was named in honor of Betty Uber in 1956, as she was one of the most successful British doubles players of her generation.  She wanted the women to have a tournament similar to the one the men already had.

    The Sudirman Cup is the mixed team competition, which happens every three years.  The first tournament took place in Indonesia in 1989, because it was named after Dick Sudirman, a former Indonesian badminton player and the founder of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).  There are five matches in every round for men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles.  No prize money is awarded at the tournament, so players are playing for pride and points in the BWF rankings.

    The Badminton World Federation also hands out awards to honor players, umpires, coaches and sponsors for their dedication and contribution to the sport of badminton.  These awards include: the Hall of Fame, Herbert Scheele Trophy, Distinguished Service, Meritorius Service, Certificate of Commendation, and the Eddy Choong Player of the Year.

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