KUALA LUMPUR: Dumped by world badminton’s governing body, former deputy president Datuk Punch Gunalan took solace yesterday in the fact that his ousting has at least stirred interest in the sport he loves.

The Malaysian’s 20-year association with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ended last week when a vote of no confidence against him was passed during the body’s annual general meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.

However the 65-year-old (pictured), who was accused of using the BWF to further his own agenda, said he bore no ill-will against those who plotted his downfall.

“I wish the sport well,” he told Reuters yesterday.

“I am happy that people are talking about badminton. And that has always been what I’ve worked for all my life, to make the sport popular.

“It may be for the wrong reasons but at least it has created a lot of interest and that can only be good for the sport. I thank everyone for making that happen.”

Punch failed to attend the meeting in Jakarta, held on the sidelines of the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals.

The Mongolian Badminton Association had proposed the vote of no confidence, which resulted in 142 members voting in favour and 38 against.

The vote was prompted by a failed attempt by Punch earlier this year to topple the BWF president, South Korean Kang Young-joong.

Upon tabling the resolution, the Mongolian body stated that Punch was not at all interested in the welfare of the BWF but only in usurping the powers of the president.

Although the vote of no confidence was passed, it will only take effect after the matter has been through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

CAS will consider over the next few weeks whether or not the late addition of the no-confidence motion to the agenda of the BWF annual general meeting on Saturday was constitutional.

Punch has been a high-ranking official with the world body since the 1980s, having previously played at international level for Malaysia.

— Reuters