Probably because it is a more popular sport over there and they have better set-up from the grass roots upwards?

Also, they will make better money from the sport, meaning that they may not struggle to pay their bills as much as the Europeans?

I've heard of many English players fall away, as it is hard to get funding in this sport and what funding you do get and prize money you do win (if you are lucky enough) wouldn't really be enough to live a “normal life”.

Badminton on the whole in England, is going down. I don't care if BE keep coming out with “x many players have taken up badminton line”, I am telling you, clubs are folding and badminton isn't that popular. Now BE's funding is cut, it is more likely that less people will be joining (as opposed to when Robertson and Emms were making headlines)

That's just my 2p. 

Good question. In Asia badminton is a very democratic and popular sport, in the sense that even the smallest village or kampung would typically have a small playing area for badminton, even if it is outdoors. Some fans of the sport even build badminton courts in their back yard (if they have the space) and invite friends over for a game after work. Children go to Primary and Secondary schools where students are encouraged to take up the sport and perform in inter-school competitions, and if they are any good to pursue it as a profession. In other words badminton is “in the blood,” much like football is in Brazil. National players get a lot of Government funding to progress through the ranks and compete in international tournaments. In Malaysia and Indonesia, for instance, some national players also play for private sponsors so there is a healthy ecosystem that promotes competition between Government-sponsored and privately-sponsored players. Training is tough and regimental, and for the top players it’s an all-or-nothing proposition, i.e. you cannot play part-time and keep another job and expect to be successful at the same time.

There is a two-part good documentary by Rob Hardcastle on badminton in Malaysia, which is searchable on Youtube. It will give one a sense of how badminton is deeply entrenched in the (sports) culture of the country from the point of view of a Western observer.

Some really interesting points there Simon and ones I can relate to, nothing bugs me more than a club that states beginners welcome and then when one turns up you see them ignored by players who only want 'good games'.

At my regular club we are struggling for members, it seems difficult to get people to try the sport in the first place, but equally difficult to get social players to move to playing in clubs. I see loads of people playing on courts they've booked themselves but shy away from turning up to a club night. This idea of the snobbish attitude may be the reason.

It would be interesting to hear from people in similar positions on how they have tried to get new members to a club, or the reasons they feel people won't move from a social standard to club and league.