New Delhi: Pullela Gopichand still remembers the disruption caused by badminton’s scoring overhaul during his playing career and as the sport gears up to embrace another “tactical shift”, the India coach believes a few players will be “wiped off”.
The 15×3 system (three games of 15 points each) will replace the current 21×3 format (three games of 21 points each) next year. The BWF said the shorter format would help in managing player workload in a crowded calendar.
Gopichand recalled how he had won the All England title in 2001 under the traditional 15-point format before badminton briefly switched to the 7×5 scoring system.
Best-of-three games, but reduced to 15 points per game instead of 21. At 14-all, the first to lead by 2 points wins, with a hard cap at 20-all where the next point decides the game. In the third deciding game, players change sides at 8 points.
Rewards immediate high intensity and punishes slow starts. Aimed at cutting down match times, fatigue, and injury risks over packed global tours.
Legends like Pullela Gopichand and Vimal Kumar questioned the necessity of altering a successful 21-point tradition.
