After a seven-year break, China plans to relaunch its badminton club super league this year.
Liu Fengyan, director of Table Tennis and Badminton Administration Center under China's State General Administration of Sport, said on the 50th anniversary meeting of the Chinese Badminton Association here on Tuesday that they will relaunch the league later this year.
Although Liu did not disclose the exact date, he gave more details on the number of clubs, saying that there will be six to eight clubs each with at least 10 shuttlers for the league.
"We don't expect too many clubs involved in the league as in the inauguration year we want to see how it works, and leave as less impact as possible on the national team," he said.
The Chinese badminton club league was once started in 1999 but closed in 2002 due to fund shortage. At that time, there were only three clubs involved, failing to win the market. In the 2008 Beijing Games, China won three gold, two silver and three bronze medals in badminton, making Chinese people more enthusiastic about the sport. Stars like Lin Dan and Zhang Ning also help win badminton fans' heart.
According to source who declined to be named, the league needs over 20 million Yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars) for its operation and the sponsorship has been guaranteed.
Li Yongbo, head coach of Chinese Badminton Team, added: "We had hoped to relaunch the league before the Beijing Olympics but at that time we were in great pressure preparing for the Games, so we aborted the plan. Now the Games were over and the market is mature."
If the league is relaunched, it means China will have to give up some international tourneys even those providing world ranking points.
"You can not burn the candle at both ends,"said Li. "We mush give up some international tournaments. But we will find the balance point."
Liu noted that the league, as a competition stage for the Chinese badminton players, serves the Olympics.
He added that the league will also help prevent some top athletes from going abroad to play or teach.
"Once they find there is a top league at home, they are willing to stay to make a living," he said. "And this will also make more and more Chinese parents let their children play badminton since they can see the hope through the league."
(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)
