2025.12.07 07:01
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) changes the playing format from a 21-point 3-game system to a 15-point 3-game system. It’s not a small change. The score decreases by nearly 30%. In baseball, the game only lasts until the 7th inning. In soccer, the two halves only last 30 minutes each. There are conflicting views on who this change will benefit.
On the 2nd, BWF decided to change the international competition regulations to a 15-point system per game. The 21-point system that has been in place for 19 years since 2006 is being modified. After approval from the general meeting in April next year, it is expected to be implemented in the second half of next year, starting with the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will open in September.
The justification for the rule change is player protection. Badminton has an unusually large number of international competitions. Athletes are having a hard time as two to three international competitions are held continuously every month.
Ahn Se-young (23), world number one in women’s singles, has had periodic recurrences of her injured knee at last year’s Paris Olympics. This is because he did not have enough recovery time after injury to maintain his ranking. If the 21-point system is changed to a 15-point system, players, including Ahn Se-young, will have more room.
The problem is that this 15-point system may be disadvantageous for Korean players. Ahn Se-young’s style is to hold on defensively in the early part of the game and then launch a full-scale offensive in the mid to late game when the opponent’s stamina falls. The world’s No. 1 men’s doubles team, Seung-jae Seo (26) and Won-ho Kim (25), are also representative slow starters.
As the game gets shorter, early concentration and attack power become key variables in deciding the winner. The strategy of turning the situation around by dragging it into a battle of stamina becomes difficult to achieve. In baseball, a lot of drama occurs after the 8th inning. If badminton also changes to a 15-point system, the comeback drama will drastically decrease. This is why some in the badminton world are raising suspicions, saying, “Isn’t this an attempt to keep Ahn Se-young, the absolute powerhouse in women’s singles, in check?”
Ha Tae-kwon, former head coach of the Badminton Association, said, “Under the new system, faster and more aggressive game management is essential.” He added, “The superiority and inferiority due to differences in physical strength will be offset, and the relative perfection of technique and strategy will be more highlighted.”
On the other hand, there is a view that it is actually advantageous for Korea in the long run. China’s Sina Sports said, “There are many analyzes that the new system is disadvantageous to Ahn Se-young, but if you look at the season as a whole, there will be more competitions in which players will compete in their best condition by conserving stamina due to the shortened game time. Rather, it may increase Ahn Se-young’s chances of sweeping major tournaments or winning all of the season’s crowns. The new system could be a measure to protect Ahn Se-young.”
Song Ji-hoon ([email protected])
