China's Tang Yuanting has joined the BWF Athletes' Commission ©AFP/Getty Images

China's Tang Yuantin has become a member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Athletes’ Commission, while five men are seeking positions on the representative body.

Having been the only female among the six nominees, Yuanting automatically became a Commission member in accordance with the BWF’s regulations, while the remaining two positions are set to be filled by men.

The 20-year-old doubles specialist becomes the second woman on the six-person body, joining Indonesia’s Greysia Polii, one of eight players disqualified from London 2012 for throwing their matches.

The three vacant positions on the Commission are a result of current Commission chair Emma Mason of Scotland and fellow members Rodrigo Pacheco of Peru and Lee Yong Dae of South Korea coming to an end of their terms.

Lee is seeking re-election for another four-year term, but will face a challenge from Shintaro Ikeda of Japan and London 2012 mixed doubles gold medallist Zhang Nan of China for the two remaining posts.

South Africa’s Prakash Vijayanath and The Netherlands’ Koen Ridder are also vying for the right to become part of the Commission and join Yuhan Tan of Belgium and Denmark’s Hans Kristian Vittinghus, the vice-chair.

Zhang Nan is bidding to earn one of the final two places on the six-person Commission
Zhang Nan is bidding to earn one of the final two places on the six-person Commission ©Getty Images

Athletes are due to place their votes on May 12 at the upcoming VIVO BWF Sudirman Cup, scheduled to take place from May 10 to 17 in Dongguan, China.

One of the Commission’s first duties after the election will be to decide one a new chair, following the departure of Mason from the role, with the individual set to sit and be a voting member on the BWF Council.

The Commission, established in 2008, aims to give the athletes a voice at the BWF Council, representing their views and also has  the responsibility to advise the Council on issues related to athletes.



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