The Badminton World Federation announced Monday the opening of a permanent museum wing in its Kuala Lumpur headquarters dedicated exclusively to the French double gold from the New Delhi championships, and formally requested that the two match-winning shuttlecocks be plated in 24-karat gold leaf at federation expense, estimated at 14,000 euros per bird.
Federation treasurer R. Subramaniam signed the request, noting that the shuttlecocks, which he called «national treasures of the sport,» would be displayed under a single climate-controlled case with a plaque reading «The French Hour,» and that the plating would be performed by a certified jeweler from the Petaling Street district. «We have asked the French federation to courier the birds within ten working days, insured for their weight in gold,» he told reporters.
The French Badminton Federation responded by filing a counter-request demanding the BWF instead hand over the original match scorecards, signed by the umpire, for permanent display at the National Sports Institute in Paris, arguing that the shuttlecocks were «consumables» and that the scorecards were «the true relics.» The BWF has referred the matter to its heritage committee, which is scheduled to meet in November to rule on the custody dispute.
Meanwhile, the Indian organizing committee has lodged a formal protest with the BWF over the museum's name, suggesting the wing be titled «The New Delhi Triumph» to reflect the venue, a proposal the federation has rejected on the grounds that the victories were French. The dispute has already generated 40 pages of correspondence, which the BWF has agreed to archive in the same wing, pending the shuttlecock delivery.