KUALA LUMPUR – Denmark’s men’s singles shuttler, Anders Antonsen, has decided to terminate his coaching agreement with Joachim Persson following a betting scandal.
The world number three made the announcement via social media today, citing a breach of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) code of conduct as the primary reason for his decision.
Antonsen, who has been coached by Persson since going independent, expressed his disappointment over the situation.
“Joachim has been my only coach since I went independent. He has been a huge part of my comeback story.
“We have travelled the world together, fought crazy battles on the court, and achieved multiple tournament wins together. I’ll always be grateful for the time we’ve spent.
“So obviously I’m absolutely gutted and sick to my stomach that this is the way our ways end,” Antonsen wrote in his statement.
However, the shuttler revealed that he witnessed Persson placing a bet on a match at a recent tournament, a clear violation of the BWF regulations for coaches and players.
“I would like to clarify that I don’t know anything about the duration of this behaviour. I know about one single incident of placing bets on a random match—but that, for me, is enough.
“Also, the match didn’t include me,” Antonsen emphasised, making it clear that his decision was based on his principles and commitment to fair play.
According to Antonsen, the discovery was made by chance, but it put him in a difficult position given the strict rules governing professional badminton.
“As a player competing in the BWF, you’re obligated to report such behaviour as soon as it comes to your knowledge. Failing to report such information would be a violation of the BWF code of conduct,” Antonsen added.
Persson, a former world number six and a prominent figure in Danish badminton, has a controversial history regarding betting.
In 2019, while still a player, he was suspended for 18 months after being found guilty of four violations of the sport’s code of conduct related to betting and irregular match results.
The BWF Ethics Hearing Panel determined Persson’s actions were in breach of the rules designed to maintain the sport’s integrity.
With a busy schedule of tournaments and practice camps ahead, Antonsen admitted that this development leaves him in a challenging situation.
“I’m now left in a very complicated situation. Without a coach and heading into a very busy travel schedule with tournaments and practice camps coming up, I’ll do my best to solve the puzzle and move on as fast as I can,” he shared.
Despite the setback, Antonsen remains focused on his career and is determined to move forward.
He asked for understanding and space as he evaluated his next steps.
“I wish to get some space to evaluate everything and I hope the media will leave me alone for a little while. I’ve said everything there is to say for now.”
This sudden coaching change comes as a shock to the badminton community, given the successful partnership between Antonsen and Persson, which saw Antonsen rise to the top ranks of the sport.
The future of Antonsen’s coaching team remains uncertain as he prepares for upcoming tournaments without his long-time mentor.
The BWF has yet to comment on the situation or announce any further action. – August 24, 2024