Badminton: Record-high number of entries

(BEIJING, July 26) -- Around 50 countries and regions will dispatch shuttlers to compete at the Beijing Olympic Games this August, a record high number since 1992, when the badminton event first appeared at the Olympic Games.

"There will be 50 teams in Beijing to compete at the badminton tournament. It is a huge progress compared to the Athens Games, where 32 teams participated," said Ren Chunhui, a BOCOG official.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) revised the rules after the Athens Games to restrict entries of each country to a maximum of three. This allowance only applies if those three athletes are ranked in the top four in the world; otherwise, only two representatives are permitted per country. The reform aimed at restricting the monopoly of badminton powerhouses like China, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea, and encouraging the development of the sport in the world.

"The reform is successful. No doubt about it," said Ren. "Four years ago only one African country, South Africa, competed at the Olympic badminton tournament. Beijing will welcome shuttlers from six African countries."

The badminton competition will take place from August 9-17 at the Beijing University of Technology.