'Pathetic position': Calls for change in BKA's equipment policies as An Se-young releases blister pictures

Badminton Korea Association (BKA) President Kim Taek-kyu promised Tuesday to revise a rule that forces national team badminton players to use equipment provided by sponsors.

Badminton Korea Association President Kim Taek-kyu, front right, speaks during a hearing at the National Assembly’s sports committee in western Seoul on Tuesday. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Badminton Korea Association (BKA) President Kim Taek-kyu promised Tuesday to revise a rule that forces national team badminton players to use equipment provided by sponsors, following criticism that the rule hinders players’ performance and led Paris Olympic gold medalist An Se-young to develop blisters on her feet.

BKA President Kim appeared before a hearing at the National Assembly’s sports committee in western Seoul, alongside other sports officials, amid the ongoing investigation into the BKA’s alleged mismanagement of players and the practices highlighted by An after winning her gold medal in Paris last month.

The current BKA rule stipulates that national team players must use uniforms or equipment designated by the association when training or competing in international tournaments.

Players have no right to choose their shoes or rackets, which can significantly impact their performance. Badminton and boxing are reportedly the only sports with such a rule among those included in the Olympics or Asian Games.

Lawmaker Min Hyung-bae presented Kim with a slide showing An’s blistered feet. An previously expressed discomfort wearing the shoes provided by sponsors.

Badminton player An Se-young's feet after she developed blisters while wearing shoes supplied by sponsors. [LAWMAKER MIN HYUNG-BAE'S OFFICE]

“This is what happened after wearing shoes from the sponsors,” Min said. “I don’t understand the senior officials’ pathetic position that they couldn’t do anything because of the rule.”

While Kim said that he could not change the rule unilaterally due to relationships with sponsors, he still promised to take action.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched an investigation into the BKA after the Paris Olympics and has so far uncovered inconsistencies in funding, discriminatory practices within business leagues and evidence of officials breaking their own policies to receive kickbacks during a briefing earlier this month.

The ministry stated it will conclude the probe at the end of the month.

BY KIM JI-HYE [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]