Viktor Axelsen reaches out to the International Badminton Federation (BWF) and demands more focus on the players’ mental health.
The Danish world star Viktor Axelsen canceled the season finale on Tuesday due to an injury.
Shortly afterwards, he received an email from BWF demanding documentation, otherwise he would risk a fine of 5,000 dollars (approx. DKK 35,000).
Axelsen has previously experienced that documentation has not prevented a fine, and he therefore reacted strongly to X (formerly Twitter):
If the BWF wants to give me another fine, they just do it. I am tired of their approach, he wrote.
But the outcry didn’t stop there. Axelsen subsequently directed broad criticism at the association, which he believes ignores the players’ mental health.
Loneliness and pressure among the players
Axelsen highlights the American player Beiwen Zhang as an example of the problems.
Zhang has spoken publicly about financial pressure and loneliness as an individual athlete on the World Tour.
She has felt compelled to participate in tournaments even when she was physically and mentally exhausted, because fines for canceling were financially prohibitive.
At the same time, she is often without support from a national federation and lacks basic resources such as warm-up partners for matches.
The treatment of Beiwen Zhang upsets me.
Mental health is not considered a valid reason for cancellation, which pressures players to continue even when they need a break, says Axelsen.
He questions where the sport of badminton is headed if the mental health of the players is not prioritized.
The players must shout
Axelsen believes that BWF will only change if the players stand together and speak out, even though many are afraid of the consequences.
I feel a responsibility to speak for current and future players.
The fans also have the right to know what is going on, writes Axelsen, who however praises the BWF for their contribution to the development of the sport.
He emphasizes that he does not expect major changes immediately, but will continue to fight for better conditions for the players and the sport.
Axelsen’s appeal has caused a stir and focuses on a topic that is often overlooked in elite sports: the mental health of the players.
