Changing In Badminton Rules: What Do Saina and Juma Think?

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has taken a groundbreaking step. For some time now, the federation had been considering reducing the length of badminton matches. Their goal was to make matches more competitive and to bring the average match time down to half an hour for better television broadcasting.

That vision received its official seal of approval on Saturday. During the BWF Annual General Meeting in Denmark, several new rules, including changes to the scoring system, were approved. Out of 245 votes, 198 were in favor of the changes, while 43 were against. The new rules will come into effect on January 4, 2027. The long-standing format of three 21-point games is being scrapped. Instead, matches will be decided over three games of 15 points each.

The proposal for the 3 games with 15 scoring system passed successfully through the vote. Under the new rules, if a game reaches a 14-14 tie, a player must win by a margin of two points. However, the scoring is capped at 21 points. If the score reaches 20-20, the player who reaches the 21st point first will be declared the winner. Previously, this cap was set at 30 points. Additionally, the "technical time-out," which previously occurred at 11 points, will now take place when a player reaches 8 points. The duration of the break will remain one minute. With these changes, the average match time is expected to drop to approximately 30 minutes, down from the current 60 to 80 minutes. BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul stated, "The goal of introducing three 15-point games is to make badminton more exciting and competitive. It will simplify match scheduling and help players manage physical fatigue more effectively.

Badminton has seen several rule changes in the past. Before 2002, men played three 15-point games while women played 11. From 2002 to 2006, a system of five 7-point games was used. The current three 21-point game format has been in place since 2006.

While commenting on the frequent rule changes, former Indian world number one, Saina Nehwal, said, "If any change is introduced, it must be ensured that it does not affect the quality of rallies or the competitive balance of the game. Ultimately, the focus should remain on fair competition and the spirit of the sport.

"Bangladeshi shuttler Al-Amin Juma shared his thoughts with Agamir Shomoy, saying, "Playing three consecutive 21-point games increases the risk of injury. That is likely why the points have been reduced. It is too early to say if this will turn good for us, but such sudden shifts in rules will definitely pose a challenge for shuttlers to adapt."