Former national coach and Olympic medallist, Rashid Sidek, has voiced strong opposition to the recent introduction of the relay scoring system in badminton, specifically in the mixed team event at the World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China. Rashid has urged the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to reconsider and avoid implementing this system in future international tournaments, warning that it could harm the integrity of the sport if made permanent.
The relay scoring format, which was tested for the first time in Nanchang, replaced the traditional 21-point best-of-three system. Under the new system, each match consists of 10 games, with each game played to 11 points. The first team to reach 110 points wins. According to the BWF, this format was designed to give less dominant badminton nations a chance to challenge the top teams.
However, Rashid, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, firmly believes that the relay scoring system does not truly measure the abilities of badminton players. “The relay system does not accurately reflect a player’s or pair’s skill level,” Rashid told Timesport.
Despite its intended purpose, the relay format yielded surprising results in Nanchang. Indonesia took advantage of the new system, defeating China in a tight final match (110-105). Other powerhouse badminton nations such as Denmark, Thailand, South Korea, and England failed to meet expectations, while non-traditional badminton countries like the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Poland significantly outperformed their usual rankings.
Rashid criticized the experiment, stating, “BWF may have its reasons, but we can all see that the relay system will not help the development of badminton.” He emphasized that the traditional 21-point system better captures the physical and mental endurance required in badminton, which is known as one of the most demanding racquet sports.
“In the traditional system, players find their rhythm after 11 points. But in the relay system, the game ends once a player scores 11 points, cutting off the natural flow of the match,” he added. According to Rashid, the relay system diminishes the excitement and competitiveness of team events, making comebacks almost impossible once one team establishes a lead.
Rashid is particularly concerned that the BWF may consider using the relay system in major team events such as the Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, and Sudirman Cup, which would further dilute the sport’s competitive thrill. “It would take away the excitement from badminton if this experiment continues,” Rashid warned, hoping the BWF will abandon the idea after its trial in Nanchang.
For now, the individual events at the World Junior Championships will return to the traditional 21-point best-of-three system, a move that Rashid and many others in the badminton community hope signals an end to the relay scoring experiment.
