In Eddy Choong's heyday, being politically correct didn't matter. What counted was being true to oneself, and living by the code where sportsmanship came first. Choong was from this top drawer, and played like a gentleman, even going to the length of conceding a key match after a wrong call by officials.
Seen in this light, and age notwithstanding - he is 81 - we felt the four-time All-England badminton singles champion was the perfect candidate to answer the vexed question his beloved sport is trapped in now: should a skirt-only rule be applied for women.
Choong answers in the affirmative, but believes it would be best left to the individual to decide.
'A woman wearing a skirt is much more beautiful than one in shorts,' says Choong. 'The game today is all about commercialism and television. Without TV no sport can survive and if it is felt that it would make for more attractive viewing, why not? But I don't think it should be forced on any woman. It should be up to her to decide.
'There is no advantage in wearing shorts or skirts. This is all about fashion and money. I think they should just go ahead. And if you have it, why hide it,' he adds with disarming candour.
In town last week as a guest of the Hong Kong Football Club's badminton society, which was celebrating the club's 125th anniversary, Choong was adamant that as long as a rule did not give any unfair advantage to a person, then it should be adopted, especially if it would help raise the sport's profile.
The Badminton World Federation - its 11-strong executive board is exclusively made up of men - has shelved a new skirts-only dress code for women after it ruffled many feathers. The BWF council which met last month in Qingdao decided 'further study' was needed after the strident protests from athletes and officialdom. UK sports minister Hugh Robertson said the move was a 'regressive and damaging' attempt to sex up the sport.
