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South Korean Kang Young Joong (R),
reelected president of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Paisan
Rangsikitpho of the United States, newly-elected deputy president of the
BWF attend the press conference in Guangzhou, capital of south China's
Guangdong Province, on May 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
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GUANGZHOU, May 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Kang Young
Joong was reelected as president of Badminton World Federation (BWF) here on
Sunday.
Kang was elected president of BWF in 2005 during the
9th Sudirman Cup and his term ceased in 2009. During the 11th Sudirman Cup in
Guangzhou, he won the reelection, polling a vote of 162-233.
His challenger Andrew Kam, vice president of the
Malaysian Badminton Association, polled a vote of 70-233.
Paisan Rangsikitpho of the United States was elected
deputy president of BWF with 167 votes. While his challenger Robin Bryan from
Australia wrapped up with 59 votes.
Li Lingwei, vice president of the Chinese Badminton
Association, was reelected council member of BWF with the highest vote of 225.
A total of 17 council members were elected among 33
candidates.
Kang said in a press conference: "After reboarding
the organization, we will keep our promise serving our members. In the future,
we will attract more children to enjoy badminton. And we will start from the
beginning ..we'll create greater value, create new vision, and create new future
(for the organization)."
Rangsikitpho echoed with Kang, saying that this was a
new chapter and they will shoulder the responsibility to move forward.
"We will start working tonight as the first council
meeting (after election) will be held tonight."
During Kang's helm in the past four years, BWF was
even in crisis as Kang and Malaysian Punch Gunalan, former deputy president of
BWF, made accusations on each other in the world championships in Kuala Lumpur
in 2007.
Kang accused Gunalan of trying to usurp his position
while Gunalan accused Kang of his failure to make the sport move
forward.
