The 20th edition of the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships for the Suhandinata Cup is set to introduce a groundbreaking change to the badminton world: the relay scoring system. This innovative system, making its debut in Nanchang from September 30th to October 5th, 2024, is poised to shake up the traditional badminton landscape and provide emerging badminton nations with a greater opportunity to challenge the sport’s powerhouses.
Historically, the Suhandinata Cup has been dominated by only four countries since its inception in 1990: China, Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The relay scoring system promises to disrupt this pattern.
The system, first introduced at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, involves a series of 10 matches (two each in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles). Each match contributes to a cumulative score, with the first team to reach 110 points declared the winner.
How does the relay scoring system work?
- The first match is played to 11 points, with a change of ends at 6 points.
- Subsequent matches start at the score of the previous match, ensuring continuous action and strategic decision-making.
- The trailing player or pair in each match starts with their actual number of points or a minimum multiple of 5, whichever is higher, providing a chance for a comeback.
- No player can participate in more than four matches, promoting team involvement and strategic player selection.
- The choice of the first match is determined by a draw between team managers, adding an element of chance to the competition.
This dynamic scoring system is expected to inject excitement and unpredictability into the tournament, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. It also promises to level the playing field, giving weaker teams a fighting chance against traditionally stronger opponents.
Former Chinese player and current junior coach Chen Jin expressed his excitement about the new system, stating, “It’s new to me as well. You never know what will happen… perhaps this gives a chance for weaker teams to do well against stronger teams.“
The World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2024 will feature a group stage followed by a final stage to determine the overall ranking of teams. With the introduction of the relay scoring system, the tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle of skill, strategy, and unexpected outcomes. The badminton world eagerly awaits the dawn of this new era in the sport.
