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)