IBF plans to change Sudirman Cup format

IBF plans to change Sudirman Cup format

JAKARTA (JP): The International Badminton Federation will introduce inter-continental qualifying rounds for the Sudirman Cup mixed team championship in 1997.

IBF president Lu Shenrong, of China, said during the world badminton championships in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Wednesday that the new format would follow that of the Thomas Cup men's team championships and the Uber Cup women's team championships.

"By the new format, only the winning teams from each qualifying zone will turn up for the Sudirman Cup finals," Lu said. "It's very similar to the system applied in the World Cup soccer championship," Lu was quoted by Antara as saying.

She added that she would raise the idea during an IBF meeting this week. The meeting is scheduled to choose the next Cup host.

The Sudirman Cup, a biennial event introduced in 1989, contests both the first division and second division during a week-long competition. The winner of the second division competition is promoted to the first division.

Lu said that, because of their inferiority, teams from Australia, Oceania and Pan America will play more matches to qualify than their Asian and European rivals. "It's quite fair since badminton is popular mostly in Asia and Europe," Lu said.

The IBF president also said that the International Olympics Committee would not be offering extra badminton gold medals for team events.

"Badminton is originally an individual event," she said, adding that IOC's growing concern with badminton would be enough to develop the sport. The 1996 Olympic Games badminton competition offers five golds in the men's and women's singles, the men's and women's doubles and the mixed doubles.

Badminton made its debut as a fully-fledged medal event in Barcelona in 1992, when Indonesia's Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma won both singles golds. (amd)