THE Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Sunday announced a new tournament structure, with increased prize money, as it looks to raise the sport’s profile and ramp up revenues.

    The new tour series, which features six levels, will kick off next year and run until 2021, with at least a million dollars in prize money up for grabs in each of its top four events.

    The Level 1 end-of-season finale to be played in China will feature US$1.5 million in prize money, while the three Level 2 events — in China, England and Indonesia — will carry million-dollar prize funds, a BWF statement said. There will be five Level 3 events with US$700,000 prize money, seven Level 4 tournaments with US$350,000 to be won and 11 in level 5 (US$150,000).

    (SD-Agencies)