Thailand’s Patama Leeswadtrakul Elected New BWF President

Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul made history today, becoming the second woman to lead the Badminton World Federation (BWF) after winning the presidency unopposed at the 86th Annual General Meeting in Xiamen, China.

Patama’s journey began with a deep passion for badminton, a sport she sees as more than just a game. She expressed her commitment to making badminton a truly global sport, particularly emphasizing the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a chance to elevate the sport on the world stage.

Patama succeeds Poul-Erik Høyer of Denmark, who served as BWF President for an impressive 12 years. Høyer, now an Honorary Life Vice President, leaves behind a legacy of growth and development for badminton. He wished Patama the best, highlighting the importance of continuity, innovation, and capacity building in the years to come.

Etienne Thobois of France, a long-time BWF Council member and CEO of the Paris 2024 Olympics, was elected as Deputy President. Thobois expressed his enthusiasm for working with Patama and the team to expand badminton’s reach globally.

Richard Perot of France was chosen as BWF Vice President for Para Badminton, succeeding Paul Kurzo. Perot envisions a more inclusive badminton world, where everyone, regardless of ability, background, or creed, has the opportunity to play and dream of becoming a champion.

The AGM also saw the election of 20 new BWF Council members, chosen in accordance with continental and gender quotas outlined in the BWF Constitution.

BWF also confirmed several key updates, including the permanent ban on the ‘spin serve’ and the appointment of Richard Vaughan as the new Chief Operating Officer, replacing Stuart Borrie after 17 years of service.

With a new leadership team in place, the BWF is poised to continue its journey towards making badminton a truly global phenomenon.