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SCMP Sport

Kyodo

A proposal by the World Badminton Federation could see the nature of the sport shift dramatically, with each best-of-three game to be won by 15 points rather than the current 21.
The potential change, according to some officials, is aimed at making matches faster while alleviating some physical burden on the players.
But there are concerns over the possible transformation of the sport, however, with some believing it will tip the balance in favour of those players who attack from the start.
Thomas Lund, the BWF secretary general, dismissed that and said it was about creating an environment to let the game’s top stars have longer careers.
“The 15-point system was designed to align with modern competition trends, aiming to enhance the excitement of the game, increase the importance of each point, and ensure that the match enters a crucial confrontation from the very beginning,” he said.

Women’s world No 1 An Se-young, who won the World Tour Finals last month, said she believed the change could be for the better.
“The new rules will indeed be tough at the beginning, but as long as you continue to participate and adapt, they will eventually bring positive results,” she said.
“To look at it from another perspective, the reduction in points and the relative decrease in physical burden are, in some ways, a good thing.”
Under the current rules, a match can finish within 30 minutes but at times run for more than 90 minutes.
The move by badminton is part of a wider effort across the sporting world to speed up play, with one of the most high-profile changes coming with Major League Baseball’s introduction of a pitch clock.
“We have loads of close matches and I’ve once played at 2am. Shortening the time is good for both the players and fans,” said Japan’s Arisa Igarashi, the Tokyo and Paris Olympics bronze medallist in the mixed doubles.
Yuta Watanabe, her partner at the Games, also reacted positively to the potential change as “the entertainment level is set to be raised”, as matches are condensed.
It would likely come with a big impact on the shuttlers’ playing style, particularly for Japanese players who thrive on tenacity and defensive skills, areas that are likely to be put further under the microscope via the changes.
“I used to think I could beat Chinese pairs if we could take them to the last game, but I now can see them attacking throughout a match,” Igarashi said. “Offensive players will be the beneficiaries.”
Current women’s singles world champion Akane Yamaguchi was also aware of the ramifications.
“I’m a slow starter and there could be occasions where I get pushed back by the opponent’s power,” she said. “How I begin the match will become more important.”
It would be the first major change to the badminton rules since 2006, when the rally point system was introduced.


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South Korea’s An Se-young believes the changes could be a positive for the game. Photo: AFP

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World Badminton Federation considering cultural shift to sport, cutting points needed to win a game and putting focus on attack


World Badminton Federation considering cultural shift to sport, cutting points needed to win a game and putting focus on attack.


Akane Yamaguchi

An Se-young

Badminton bosses eye dramatic change to traditional scoring system to make games quicker

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}World Badminton Federation considering cultural shift to sport, cutting points needed to win a game and putting focus on attack

World Badminton Federation considering cultural shift to sport, cutting points needed to win a game and putting focus on attack