The BWF (Badminton World Federation) publishes a special statement in which it defends Malaysian badminton legend Lee Chong Wei and Chinese “Super Dan” Lin Dan as deserving inductees into the BWF Hall of Fame.
In response to Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, who previously questioned Lee Chong Wei’s inclusion in the BWF Hall of Fame due to his alleged lack of Olympic or World Championship titles, the BWF reaffirms that both Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan deserve the prestigious recognition for their outstanding contributions to the sport.
The BWF issued the following statement on social media on the Hall of Fame criteria:
“Based on recommendations from the BWF Awards Committee, the BWF Council has approved the induction of Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei into the BWF Hall of Fame, as per the selection criteria listed in the Awards Regulations.”
They praised both players’ contributions, saying,
“Both players are deserving honorees who have made remarkable contributions to badminton over an extended period, both on and off the court.”
“BWF acknowledges the achievements and contributions of many legendary figures in this sport and looks forward to inducting more champions into the BWF Hall of Fame in the coming years.”
The BWF Awards Regulations stipulate evaluation criteria, including outstanding achievements and performances throughout a full professional career, significant contributions beyond on-court performances, and being a role model. Nominees must have retired from international badminton or have been inactive on the international circuit for three years or more.