The Athletes’ Commission (2025 – 2029) has five members and they serve for a four-year term.

The role of the Athletes’ Commission is to represent views and opinions of badminton athletes on rules and regulations, athlete experience at tournaments and issues related to athletes on the international circuit.

The Athletes’ Commission is distinct from the Para Badminton Athletes’ Commission (linked here) which is elected by the Para badminton player group. Terms of Reference – Athletes Commission

Membership of the Commission 

Pusarla V. Sindhu (India) – Chair

One of India’s most celebrated athletes, Pusarla is a two-time Olympic medallist in women’s singles – silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020.

Her outstanding BWF World Championships record includes gold (2019), silver (2017, 2018) and bronze (2013, 2014). At the Asian Games, she won women’s singles silver in 2018 and women’s team bronze in 2014.

Pusarla was named BWF Most Improved Player in 2016, received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (India’s highest sporting honour) the same year and was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2020. She was also named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year in 2020 and serves as brand ambassador for several public initiatives of the Indian government.

Pusarla served on the BWF Athletes’ Commission from 2017 to 2025 and has been a BWF Integrity Ambassador since 2020.

Pusarla is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where every athlete –regardless of background or career stage – feels supported, respected and empowered to thrive.

Debora Jille (Netherlands) – Deputy Chair

Jille has represented the Netherlands for nearly a decade in women’s and mixed doubles at major events, including the BWF World Championships and European Championships.
Her career highlights include a bronze medal at the 2019 European Mixed Team Championships, silver at the 2023 European Games and bronze at the 2024 and 2025 European Championships.
Off the court, Jille plays an active leadership role as a team representative, assisting with planning and supporting teammates. She founded the Women’s Badminton Collective to promote and grow the sport.
Jille is deeply committed to fair play, gender equality, diversity and inclusivity, and enhancing women’s participation in sport. As an Athletes’ Commission member, she wishes to advocate for athlete welfare – including mental health, safe environments and post-career support – and supports initiatives that make badminton more professional, sustainable and accessible.

An Se Young (Korea)

Named BWF Most Promising Player of the Year in 2019 and BWF Female Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, An is the reigning Olympic champion in women’s singles, having won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In 2023, An made history as the first Korean women’s singles player to win the BWF World Championships. She also clinched women’s singles gold at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games and contributed to Korean women’s team’s gold medal victories at the Uber Cup and Asian Games the same year.

An aspires to use her experience as a world class athlete to advocate for safer training and competition environments that help prevent injury.

She also aims to support young talent by promoting programmes that offer aspiring juniors greater international exposure – without the burden of financial constraints.

Doha Hany (Egypt)

Hany has been competing internationally since 2013 and represented Egypt and Africa at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, she made history as the first African badminton player to qualify in three disciplines – women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

A four-time BWF World Championships participant, Hany has amassed 27 medals at the African Championships – seven gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze – across singles and doubles events. She also earned a bronze in women’s singles at the 2022 Mediterranean Games.

Hany has been honoured with several accolades, including the Badminton Africa Special Achiever Award (2021) and three Presidential Medals of Honour from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (2020, 2022, 2024).

As an Athletes’ Commission member, Hany strives to be a role model for future generations and a strong voice for African shuttlers on the global stage.

As a hijab-wearing athlete, she is committed to showing badminton as a sport that is fair, inclusive and welcoming to all.

Jia Yi Fan (China)

Jia has had a stellar career, winning 46 international titles in women’s doubles and being part of 11 gold medal-winning teams in major team events.

She won women’s doubles gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and silver at Tokyo 2020 and is a four-time world champion in women’s doubles (2017, 2021, 2022, 2023). She also captured the season finale titles in 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Jia is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Sports Sociology at Jilin University and has served as Director of the Athletes’ Committee of the Chinese Badminton Association and captain of the Chinese Women’s National Team.

As an Athletes’ Commission member, Jia is focused on better understanding the physical and mental demands on athletes – particularly regarding competition schedules and injury prevention – and is committed to working with BWF to promote and advance badminton worldwide.