KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts will be made for all the winners to enjoy equal prize money in local tournaments in future.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary Ng Chin Chai gave the assurance after mixed doubles specialist Chan Peng Soon expressed his unhappiness over a huge disparity in prize money distribution in local tournaments.
On Monday, Peng Soon and Lai Pei Jing won the mixed doubles title at the National Grand Prix Finals in Putrajaya and they went home with a paltry sum of RM1,600 each. It was the lowest amount when compared with the winners of the other events.
Chin Chai said it would be ideal for the National GP Finals to offer the same prize money for all the winners like the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“The disparity is due to the smaller number of participants in the mixed doubles and women’s doubles in our local tournaments. Unlike the international events, the BWF get 32 pairs to compete. We only have eight pairs,” said Chin Chai.
“We have been considering for some time to make it equal for all the players. We will surely look into increasing the overall income in hosting a local tournament so that the prize money can be equally distributed.
“Our local tournaments should be on par with the international tournaments as far as the prize money distribution is concerned. We hope to bring it to that level one day,” he added.
