BWF “Introduction of 15-point system to protect top stars like Ahn Se-young”
The purpose is to improve game speed and immersion in line with modern watching trends.
[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Park Sang-wook = With the birth of the ‘Shuttlecock Empress’ named Ahn Se-young, the Badminton World Federation came up with a plan to reform the 15-point system. As Korean archery swept the Olympic gold medals, concerns arose among Korean badminton fans that this was no different from the World Archery Federation’s change from cumulative points to a set system.
BWF explained, “The claim that the introduction of a new scoring system is intended to dampen the momentum of certain players is a groundless speculation,” and that “this reorganization is rather an attempt to improve the environment so that top-class players like Ahn Se-young can play on the top stage for a longer period of time without excessive physical exhaustion.” The goal is to increase the speed and immersion of the game in line with modern people’s watching trends. As the victory requirement per set is reduced by 6 points, the tempo of the game becomes faster, and instantaneous concentration and explosive power play a greater role than long-term matches based on physical strength consumption.
In response to concerns that Ahn Se-young’s advantage in turning the game around with her strong stamina and concentration in the second half may be diluted, BWF emphasizes that “reducing the score lowers the intensity of the game while protecting players and strengthening the competitiveness of the event.”
In fact, discussions on reforming the point system have been ongoing since before Ahn Se-young. BWF has been considering changes to the system since 2014, and proposed an 11-point, 5-game, 3-win system as an official agenda in 2018 and 2021, but it was rejected one after another in member state votes. The 15-point system is a compromise. The final decision on whether to introduce it will be made at the regular general meeting held in Horsens, Denmark, in April next year. If passed, badminton will change its scoring system for the first time in 20 years since the introduction of the 21-point system in 2006.
Ahn Se-young’s reaction was calm. He returned home after the World Tour Finals and said, “If the rules change, there will be difficulties in the beginning, but as you play, you will be able to adapt. If the score decreases, the physical burden may ease. In that respect, it may actually be positive.”
Just as Korean archery has overcome numerous rule changes and remained at the top, we expect Ahn Se-young to overcome the difficulties of the scoring system reform in 2026 and maintain her position as the best. Ahn Se-young’s unrivaled ability to easily shut out his opponents will shine even brighter, and we may often see him dropping his opponents like fallen leaves in the 20th minute.
psoq1337@newspim.com
