(Xports News Reporter Kwon Dong-hwan) As the possibility of the badminton scoring system being changed to a ’15-point 3-game (set) system’ has emerged, the possibility that players’ active years will be extended has increased.
Chinese media outlet ‘NetEase’ reported on the 25th (Korean time), “Chow-Tian-Chen (Taiwan, ranked 6th in the world) shouted at the reform of the 15-point system, saying he would fight until he is 50.”
Chow Tien Chen, born in 1990, is a 35-year-old badminton male singles player. Even though he is in his mid-30s, he is ranked 6th in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) men’s singles rankings.
Although retirement is not far off due to his age, Chow Tien Chen recently welcomed the news that the badminton world could change its scoring system from the existing 21-point three-set system to a 15-point three-set system.
According to the media, he said, “If the 15-point system is introduced next year, I might be able to play until I’m 50 or until people get tired of watching me play.”
Previously, the Japan Badminton Association announced on the 5th that the BWF board of directors approved the introduction of the 15-point 3-set system.
Badminton has been using a 21-point 3-set scoring system since 2006. If the new scoring system is approved at the BWF Annual General Meeting held in April next year, it will be introduced worldwide from late 2026.
If the system is changed, the game time will be drastically reduced. As game time decreases, it is expected that there will be a positive impact on players’ injury management and fans’ interest.
‘Badminton Queen’ Ahn Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance, world No. 1) also expressed a positive response to the discussion of the 15-point system at a press conference on the 22nd, saying, “Because the scores are low, the physical burden will be lessened, and I think it will be good in that respect.”
Some have speculated that not only will the active period be extended due to the rule change, but players who have left the court, including Lee Yong-dae, may also return.
Lee Yong-dae, who was born in 1988 and will turn 38 next year, temporarily retired from the national team after the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. He returned to the international stage by teaming up with Kim Ki-jung as an individual in 2018, and is currently serving as a playing coach at Yonex.
He recently caught the attention of badminton fans by saying on a video channel that he would be able to return to active duty if the 15-point system is adopted.
While Taiwan’s veteran Chou Tien-Chen is confident that he will extend his playing age until the age of 50 following the introduction of the new regulations, attention is expected to be focused on what changes the badminton point system change will bring in Korea.
Photo = Xports News DB / Yonhap News
Reporter Kwon Dong-hwan kkddhh95@xportsnews.com
