Will the best star in Korean men’s badminton return to the court?
A recent hot topic in the badminton world is the Badminton World Federation (BWF)’s move to change the current 21-point 3-set (game) system to a 15-point 3-set system.
Previously, BWF held a board meeting on the 2nd and approved a change to the badminton game rules, changing the 21-point system to a 15-point system.
The badminton world predicts that if it passes the general meeting in April next year, it will be applied from late 2026.
BWF explained that this decision was a measure to shorten game time and protect players.
The badminton scoring system was introduced in 2006 with the current 21-point 3-game system. In 2017, an 11-point 5-game system was proposed, but the introduction was put on hold due to a vote at the general meeting falling short of the number of votes required for approval. This time the movement is unusual.
Even China, a badminton powerhouse, has noticed BWF’s recent movements and is playing matches in domestic competitions with a 15-point, 3-game system.
The change to the 15-point 3-set system is expected to have a significant impact on Korean badminton.
In particular, there are speculations that it could be a fatal blow for ‘Empress’ Ahn Se-young, who uses her strong stamina and ‘suffocating defense’ as her weapons. Ahn Se-young has a style that, even if she is outplayed by her opponent in the early stages, she turns the tide with a rally based on her stamina and defense.
If the 15-point 3-set system is introduced, each game will be reduced by 6 points compared to the current system, so players who quickly understand the opponent’s style and attack actively will have an advantage.
It can also be a variable in men’s doubles, which has the fastest playing speed among the five badminton sports. There is an assessment that this cannot be considered an advantage to the team of Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho, who quickly rose to world number one after reuniting last January.
There are not only negative factors from the perspective of Korean badminton. Because physical strength issues are reduced, more players can play skill-oriented badminton. The number of players who want to play badminton may increase further.
Some even raise the opinion that stars like Lee Yong-dae may be able to enter the international stage again.
Lee Yong-dae temporarily retired from the national team after the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2018, he returned to the international stage by teaming up with Kim Ki-jung as an individual. I am still serving as a playing coach at Yonex.
Of course, since he was born in 1988, he will be 38 next year, so he is not young. In the case of Lee Yong-dae, he is a doubles player, so he needs to find a partner.
However, if the 15-point 3-set system is adopted, players can play without worrying about physical strength or injuries, so we cannot rule out a scenario where stars like Lee Yong-dae who have not yet put down their rackets return.
Lee Yong-dae also hinted through his video channel this year that he would be open to returning to international competitions if the 15-point three-set system is achieved.
Attention is being paid to what changes the badminton point system change will bring to Korea.
