Saina appointed Integrity Ambassador by BWF along with 4 other shuttlers

TOP FIVE SHUTTLERS were appointed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as Integrity Ambassadors. Among them includes, former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal.

The unveiling of players took place yesterday in Dubai. Four other players are Christina Pedersen and Viktor Axelsen (Denmark), Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi (Japan).

This initiative 'i am badminton' was started last season to represent and promote clean, fair and honourable sport.

"In establishing this (integrity) programme, we determined that, as our players are at the centre of our sport, it would be fitting to have some of them represent the 'i am badminton' campaign as ambassadors," explained Gustavo Salazar Delgado, BWF Deputy President.

He further added,

"It is my pleasure to welcome Ayaka Takahashi, Misaki Matsutomo, Saina Nehwal, Christinna Pedersen and Viktor Axelsen as the first BWF Integrity Ambassadors. They are five athletes who compete with passion and who take huge pride in playing cleanly and fairly. They represent the integrity of badminton. Congratulations to our new Integrity Ambassadors and I thank them all for their commitment to this programme."

BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund explained a little more about the initiative.

"We want players to commit to upholding their integrity and thereby that of our sport. It's an opportunity for them to let the world know what they stand for - that they are clean and honest athletes who love badminton. These ambassadors will speak about the importance of integrity to their peers and engage in various promotional activities with the BWF."

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