ABC members reject new scoring system
ABC members reject new scoring system
JAKARTA (JP): The Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) has
rejected the new best-of-five scoring system the International
Badminton Federation (IBF) has been using since June.
ABC vice president Leo Chandra Wiranata said the decision was
unanimously supported by its 40 members during their annual
meeting in Manila, which coincided with the Asian Badminton
Championship, last week.
"The Asian badminton powerhouses of China, South Korea,
Malaysia and Indonesia decided not to use the new scoring system.
We suggest that the IBF introduce and try another scoring system
to enable us to select which one is appropriate for us," said
Leo, who is also the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
secretary-general.
Under the new scoring system, a player must win at least three
games of seven points to wrap up a match. This format allows for
more commercial breaks.
Leo said pending the adoption of the more fitting scoring
system, ABC members have proposed that the old system of the best
of three games in 15 points be reinstated starting on Jan. 1,
2002.
"Therefore, next year's big events, including the Thomas and
Uber Cup championships and the Asian Games, will use the old
system," Leo said.
"I believe IBF will listen to our recommendation as Asian
countries are very strong in terms of numbers. Besides, most
members on the IBF councils and boards are Asians."
Of about 200 IBF members, only six countries -- China,
Denmark, England, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea -- have
dominated the sport at international events.
Several players, especially doubles players, have expressed
their objection to the new system.
"The system is not suitable for doubles, especially men's
doubles, as we are playing speed and power games," said Olympic
and world champion Tony Gunawan.
World men's singles champion Hendrawan echoed his view,
saying: "I find it difficult to adjust because I'm a slow
starter. While the new system demands the player to initiate
attacks from the beginning."
Leo, who is also the ABC director for the Southeast Asian
region, said that confederation members also decided to adopt
stricter regulations on the players' moves to other countries.
"ABC has decided to follow Olympic chapter 6.21, which states
that a player can represent his or her new country after residing
there for three years at least. In a case where the two
countries' badminton associations have reached a special
agreement, the player can represent the new country after staying
there for at least a year."
Players' move was one of the priorities set by new IBF
president Korn Dabbaransi of Thailand after he was elected in
June in Seville, Spain.
The Chinese and the Indonesians have been the main reason for
the IBF to consider the issue as many of them are representing
different countries at international tournaments. The biggest
such case was the move of Indonesian Mia Audina to the
Netherlands to follow her singer husband. She had stayed in her
new country for merely eight months before she was allowed to
compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
ABC also nominated Manila to host the Thomas and Uber Cup
championships, replacing strong candidate Kuala Lumpur. The
Badminton Association of Malaysia turned down IBF's offer to host
the event for a second successive edition, saying it did not want
its shuttlers to face humiliation before their home crowd.
Malaysia failed to reach the Thomas Cup semifinals although it
had boosted its chance of reclaiming the most prestigious men's
team trophy after winning it in 1992. (yan)