By William Kings
SJA member Richard Eaton, one of the world’s premier badminton writers for more than 30 years, was honoured on finals day at the world championships at Wembley Arena this week.
The Badminton World Federation acknowledged his coverage of the sport all over the world when the federation’s president Dr Kang Young Joong presented Eaton with the Distinguished Service Award.
Torsten Berg, BWF vice-president Europe, told guests at the ceremony that the award was only made on rare occasions and reflected exceptional and outstanding service.
It was unusual for a journalist to be honoured but it reflected the way Eaton has covered his sport and also his diligence in producing and editing the BWF’s 75th Anniversary Book.
Eaton thanked Dr Kang and acknowledged the part Tom Marrs, Ciro Ciniglio and Nick Budibent had played in getting him involved in the sport in the late 1970s and for the encouragement and friendship received from fellow journalists and badminton people all over the world, particularly Danish photographer Preben Soborg and the late Danish writer Hans Christian Moller.
He also congratulated the BWF for facing up to and resolving the internal problems they were confronted with in recent years and looked forward to the sport having an even brighter future, especially if they develop the women’s game to its potential in the same way tennis has.
Earlier in the week, during an interview with Lord Coe when he visited the championships, the LOCOG chairman offered his own congratulations.
UPCOMING SJA DATES
- Mon Sep 12: SJA Autumn Golf Day, Muswell Hill GC. Click here for more details and to book yourself in for the day.
- Wed Dec 7: SJA 2011 British Sports Awards – Booking now open. For more details, click here.
All details subject to alteration. Keep checking sportsjournalists.co.uk for updates