Congratulations to Malcolm Banham on being presented with the BWF Distinguised Service Award at the 2017 Sudirman Cup Gala Dinner, Gold Coast, Australia. The following citation was read by Torsten Berg prior to the presentation of the award by BWF President, Poul-Erik Høyer:

Malcolm Banham has served as a BWF umpire at the highest level from his Accreditation until retiring, as one of our most experienced and most respected umpires, at the end of 2014.

He was accredited as a BWF Umpire in 1997 and soon after was certificated as a BWF Umpire in the World Championships in Seville in 2001. He umpired regularly at all the most prestigious events ever since, very often selected as an umpire for the most difficult matches as well as for the finals.

Malcolm Banham’s natural authority in the chair and thorough understanding of the game on the highest level enabled him to appear relaxed and smiling through the most difficult of matches, easily gaining the respect of the best players in the world.  His charisma, his sense of human relations, his commitment to transmit his expertise and knowledge makes him a true role model for his peers.

Moreover, since 2010, Malcolm Banham contributed to the game also as a BWF Umpire Assessor. In this capacity he continues to use his vast experience in the chair to the benefit of badminton and BWF. Malcolm has for several years been a driving force for developing and delivering the BWF Umpire workshops at major Events and Super Series, and recently has taken over as chair of the BWF Umpire Assessors Working Group.

It is a pleasure to invite our President, Mr Poul-Erik Høyer, to present the BWF Distinguished Service Award to Malcolm Banham, who has served the game in an exemplary way through a long and distinguished career as a Technical Official at the very highest level.