KUALA LUMPUR – The recent knee injury suffered by independent shuttler Ng Qi Xuan at the Malaysia Super 100 has sparked a debate surrounding the “grey” area regarding the handling of on-court medical emergencies.
Those who follow the sport want to know when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) will conclude its ongoing review of emergency response protocols, which began earlier this year.
This review aims to assess BWF’s current policies and procedures regarding intervention by tournament doctors to ensure timely and appropriate care. It will also include findings from the BWF’s assessment and the Badminton Asia Report, particularly following the tragic death of Chinese junior shuttler Zhang Zhi Jie, who suffered a cardiac arrest during the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta in July.
On Saturday, Ng Qi Xuan collapsed on the court at Stadium Juara, crying out in pain after landing awkwardly from a jumping smash.
Despite her visible distress, the 24-year-old women’s doubles player was left in agony for some time before receiving medical attention and being stretchered off the court.
Former Badminton Asia (BA) chief operating officer Saw Chit Boon told Scoop that while it is crucial for the BWF to take their time with the review, there needs to be a clear timeline for when it will be made public.
“It’s not a simple case of right or wrong, so concluding the review is difficult. However, the BWF should at least provide a tentative timeline.When will the review be completed? Will it be presented at the next BWF Council meeting?
“We’ve already seen the worst-case scenario with the tragic passing of the junior shuttler (Zhi Jie) from China. Then there was the controversial incident at the China Open when a chiropractor treated a player (Ren Xiangyu) on court. Now, this latest incident (involving Qi Xuan) highlights the need for clearer guidelines.
“Even during live matches, commentators often mention how this is a grey area. The BWF needs to draw a clear line. There will be pros and cons to any change, as loosening the rules could lead to some taking advantage of the system,” said Chit Boon.
A document dated December 2, 2022, available on the BWF’s corporate website, outlines the procedures for players and coaches regarding injuries or illnesses on court. It emphasises respect for players’ health and safety, continuous play laws, and fairness.
One key point in the document states: “In case of an obviously serious injury where there appears to be no doubt that the player cannot continue play (e.g., Achilles tendon rupture, knee ligament rupture, fainting, etc.), the tournament doctor shall start emergency treatment on court and, as soon as possible, ensure that the player is transported to a hospital or other emergency care.” – October 22, 2024