Punch Gunalan Bows Out ( Official BWF Statement ) The BWF announced today the resignation of Deputy President and Council Member, Datuk Punch Gunalan after a “provisional” vote of no confidence by the membership at the Badminton World Federations AGM on 17 May 2008 in Jakarta. The resignation, effective immediately, paves the way for more peaceful times in the governance of the sport at this critical time in the lead up to Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The timing of the AGM and subsequent outcomes are important given the Olympic Games in August and the timing of the resignation was not lost on BWF President, Dr Kang Young Joong, who described the move by the Deputy President as a “well placed decision that respects the sport that we all love and which respects the wishes of the membership of the BWF”. The provisional nature of the vote at the AGM related to a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling the day before the AGM in Jakarta. Whilst the results of the CAS case are still pending, Gunalan acknowledged the will of the membership and resigned before waiting for the final rule of CAS. In what has been a long, distinguished and at times controversial career in the sport Gunalan thanked his Council colleagues in submitting his letter of resignation on 28 May 2008. As the sport looks towards Beijing 2008, the BWF Council and management are focused on showcasing the sport to the world, and presenting badminton as a dynamic, powerful and hard hitting sport at the very top level and a sport which is enjoyed by an estimated 200 million players worldwide.
Punch Gunalan bows out on 28-May-2008 . ants ... Thank you for your report. We might see a different style for promoting Badminton by BWF from today. .
this is ugly Threats and intimidation... welcome to the world of badminton Death threats, people fleeing the country, computer hacking, police swoops, allegations of sabotage and terrorism. No, it's not another sleazy saga from F1, nor even a script for the latest episode of Spooks - it's much too far-fetched for that. No, it's just another badminton meeting. Details are emerging from last month's annual meeting of the Badminton World Federation in Jakarta, where government interference raises serious issues over governance of the sport. These could lead to legal action on several fronts. The BWF deputy president, Punch Gunalan, who survived a coup in Glasgow during last year's Sudirman Cup, has been ousted. Common-wealth singles gold medallist in Christchurch in 1974, he was victim of a vote of no-confidence in his absence in Jakarta. The Malaysian fled the country fearing for his safety. The no-confidence vote, brought by Mongolia, was allegedly incompetent as their dues remained unpaid. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has yet to rule on its validity, but Gunalan realises that whatever their opinion, he would again be voted out. So he resigned last week. Karen Koh, chief executive of Badminton Asia, was confronted with copies of personal correspondence between herself and Gunalan. These intercepted private emails had been turned over to security police. Taken into a room with five men, it was demanded that Koh sign a pre-prepared letter of resignation and leave the country. She was given no opportunity to contact her embassy or seek legal advice. Several BWF council members left early, feeling threatened. Mike Sertin, president of Badminton England, confirmed last night that he had sent their delegates, Nora Perry and Ciri Ciniglio, to the airport. Perry, the former England international, had felt "very uncomfortable," said Sertin. Robin Bryant, the BWF vice president from Australia, was escorted from the meeting by a group of police and questioned. He also left the country. Sri Lankan chair of administration Eraj Wijesinghe was told at 8.30 on the morning of the agm that police wanted to question him immediately. The Koh-Gunalan emails referred to him and Bryant having "sabotaged" the annual meeting - a reference to adminstrative constitutional rulings on proposals at the meeting. Clearly out of context, it was suggested that "sabotage" was linked to "terrorism". Security officers were very sensitive. Though given no chance to consult his embassy, Wijesinghe was aware anyone questioned on terrorist activities could be held incommunicado indefinitely. He also quit the country immediately. Badmintonscotland's feisty chief executive, Anne Smillie, refused to join the exodus. "If I'd been carried out, I'd have gone kicking and screaming - making sure there was a photographer there," she said. "If I was going to be criticised at the meet-ing, I wanted to face my accusers." In the event there were none, which augurs well for Ms Smillie in next year's BWF elections. Behind all this is Oriental passion for the sport and a power struggle between Gunalan and the BWF president, Dr Kang Young Joong. The Korean launched the Badminton World Foundation, whom even the non-university educated will realise has the same initials as the federation. Opponents say these intials are inapproprite, and believe Kang's foundation contravenes both the federation constitution and Olympic charter. For this reason Kang has twice been suspended as chair of the BWF council. Leon Douglas, president of BadmintonScotland, who was in Jakarta, said he was "horrified". Sertin agrees and they're discussing how to proceed. "In European or Western cultures that behaviour would not have been tolerated," said Sertin while Douglas added that the meeting should have been cancelled. "It seemed a foreign government had intervened, contrary to BWF and Olympic rules," Douglas said. A Thai on the board of Kang's foundation launched a vicious attack on the absent Wijesinghe. His diatribe included religious hyperbole to the effect that while the speaker would go to heaven, the council member would not. President Kang thanked the speaker "for his wise counsel, which will be acted on so that our beautiful sport can grow wings and fly ever upwards for the sake of our adored children." IT removed the last vestige of gilt veneer from his already tarnished Olympic relay gold medal that Michael Johnson chose a paid-for newspaper column yesterday to say he will return the medal to the International Olympic Committee. He is making a virtue of necessity. Given the latest evidence, the Court of Arbitration for Sport would never allow him to keep it. Johnson won the last of five Olympic golds in the 4x400m in Sydney. However, during the trial of coach Trevor Graham last week, Johnson's friend on that squad, Antonio Pettigrew, testified he had used drugs. The news shocked Johnson "like no other drug-related story". This despite convictions already for drug-use by the Harrison twins, Alvin and Calvin (who ran in that final), plus Jerome Young, who had run in the semis. Johnson described himself being "naive . . . I now realise that most of the athletes using drugs probably knew who else was using drugs." The world 200 and 400m record-holder is now returning the medal. "I know the medal was not fairly won and that it is dirty, so I have moved it from the location where I have always kept my medals because it doesn't belong there. And it doesn't belong to me." Worthy sentiment, but he should have concluded that long ago. 12:49am today By DOUG GILLON
There's an evident disconnect at the end of the article. It seems someone wasn't careful enough when posting By the way, what's the source of this article?
Badminton meeting: Threats and intimidation . I am just as "horrified". Getting 'death threats, people fleeing the country, computer hacking, police swoops, allegations of sabotage and terrorism'... Is the article exaggerating or what? .
Punch supporter discrediting badminton This is really strange reading. With the BWF Office here we can follow the debate and it is clear that all the people mentioned in the article are keen Punch supporters. Robin Bryan, Eraj Wijesinge, Karen Koh, Mike Sertain, Leon Douglas and Anne Smilie Unbelievable that they are going to the press with this PROPAGANDA and putting their name to such a shameful article Are these really the badminton leaders we are trusting in to bring the sport forward Where is the missing link Did they just back the wrong guy Is this the way to show their regret Malayrulez
The truth is out there.... somewhere... but no one knows unless it's being spat in the public or court.
Punch and counter-punch Well, a group of BC members from overseas were all enjoying the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup matches at the Istora Senayan that we took little notice of what went on at the players' offical hotel, the Sultan. Rudy was extremely discreet in not alarming us as he and some other BC members were staying in that same hotel and must have witnessed some related incidents, such as the police presence. But it was not pleasant at all for the badminton community to read such ugly reports and it took the hitherto hardly known Mongolia BA, which reportedly did not pay its dues promptly and whose country is currently undergoing political transition, to spark that "chaos" within the top BWF leadership. Now the question is: How come the MBA, whose officials and players are totally unknown in the badminton world, has that courage to come up with such a proposition in the first place? Certainly there must be more than meets the eye!
