Specifically, he points out that the Asian Championships and Asian Games award points equivalent to a premier Super 1000 event (12,000 points to the winner), whereas the European Championships and European Games are only valued at a Super 500 level (9,200 points).
For the first time in the history of the BWF world rankings, Europeans hold three of the top four positions.
In third place is Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, who on Tuesday decided to speak his mind in an Instagram post. In it, the Dane argued that European tournaments should award more points than they currently do, given the high level of competition among European men’s singles players.
"Ranking points matter. We strive for a high ranking to secure better seeding, more favorable draws, and increased prize money. That is why I believe we need fair competition," writes Antonsen.
He points out that the European Championships are ranked as a Super 500 tournament. The same applies to the European Games, which replace the European Championships every four years. Meanwhile, their Asian counterparts are ranked as Super 1000 tournaments. In other words, it is possible to earn more points in the Asian tournaments than in the European ones.
"With the top rankings so close together, the number one spot has been within reach almost every week. I am certainly biased here, as I am one of the players affected by the current rules. But hear what I have to say and decide for yourself," Antonsen continues.
The Danish badminton star himself suggests that the tournament models could be changed.
"The Asian Championships arguably have the strongest overall appeal. Yet, they do not include many of the world’s best players—including Victor Lai, who is also ranked among the top eight. So, should a tournament’s category be determined by its name and continent, or by the actual level of competition?" asks Antonsen in the post.