New Delhi. Former Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal has advocated retaining the current 21-point system of badminton, saying that the intensity and stamina of the game is maintained through this format. He has appealed to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to take a careful decision on any changes in the scoring system.
In fact, the Badminton World Federation has proposed to implement a 3×15 points system in place of the existing 3×21 points system. The proposal will be voted on by member countries at the BWF Annual General Meeting to be held in Horsens, Denmark on 25 April.
Saina said that badminton has a rich tradition and prestigious tournaments like All England Open Badminton Championship and BWF World Championship are considered special because of their intensity and stamina. He said any changes to the scoring or format should be seriously considered, as the current 21-point system has been successful over the years and players have adapted to it.
He said that even if any changes are made, it is important to ensure that the quality of the rallies and the competitive balance of the game is not affected. According to him, the spirit of sportsmanship and fair competition should be given priority.
Take care of the health of the players also
Describing the international calendar as very busy, Saina said that players do not get enough rest, which increases the risk of injury and fatigue. He said that badminton is a very tough game both physically and mentally, where the rallies are long and the pace of the game is also very fast.
He believes players should get better recovery time between big tournaments and teams should get more support in sports science and rehabilitation facilities.
Lakshya Sen has the ability to win the title
Saina also praised the performance of India’s young player Lakshya Sen. Lakshya recently finished runner-up in the men’s singles final of the All England Open Badminton Championships, losing to Lin Chun Yi of Chinese Taipei. Even before this, he had finished second in this tournament in 2022.
Saina said that reaching the finals of a prestigious tournament like All England twice is a big achievement. This proves that Lakshya is moving in the right direction and that he has both the ability and the mentality to compete with the best players in the world.
Saina on joining IIMUN
On her decision to join the advisory board of International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN), Saina said that sports teaches values like discipline, leadership and patience. According to him, this platform gives the youth an opportunity to develop global thinking, enhance leadership skills and express their views with confidence.
He said that if his journey inspires young students to believe in their dreams and work hard, then it will be the biggest achievement for him.
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