World badminton ditches controversial women's skirts ruling ahead of London Olympics

By Rod Gilmour

The Badminton World Federation's new dress code was due to come into effect last April, requiring all female players to wear skirts or dresses "to ensure attractive presentation".

Eriko Hirose. Photo : Steve Cubbins

The move sparked uproar and the world governing body was forced to pospone the move. Imogen Bankier, one of Scotland's leading mixed doubles, told Telegraph Sport at the time that attempts to make skirts mandatory were both "dated and sexist".

However, deputy president Paisan Rangsikitpho finally put the issue to bed at the weekend after admitting that the skirts rule - which was criticised by China, Indonesia and India, and Malaysia's main Muslim party - had finally been scrapped to avoid controversy ahead of London 2012.



"We have shelved the ban (on women wearing shorts)," he said during the Thomas and Uber Cup in Wuhan, China.

"We just want to encourage women and men players to dress properly. We want them to dress nicely, professionally."

Last week, the BWF unveiled new, cycling-style shirts for their umpires and technical officials, in another move aimed at smartening up the sport.

Badminton's skirts controversy echoes a similar debate in women's boxing, which will make its debut as a full Olympic event in London. 

Courtesy of Telegraph UK