Vimal Kumar backs 21-point system, calls it ‘real badminton’ in appeal to BWF Former India chief coach Vimal Kumar has made a strong appeal to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to retain the current 21-point, best-of-three scoring format, insisting that it represents the true essence of the sport.
The game’s global governing body has proposed switching to a 3×15 scoring format from the current 3×21 system, with a membership vote on the change scheduled at the BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, on April 25.
Following Ayush Shetty’s sensational win over top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals, Vimal spoke to PTI about the scoring system and the evolution of the young Indian shuttler, who is on the cusp of making history at the Badminton Asia Championships.
“This is real badminton and this needs to be preserved. Now BWF is thinking about reducing the scoring format and fiddling with the scores and such things for commercial reasons. That is not real badminton,” Vimal told PTI.
ALSO READ | Who is Ayush Shetty, the Indian who beat World No. 1 Vitidsarn at Badminton Asia Championships 2026
“I hope they take note of this and preserve it, at least in big events, because badminton is a tough sport. They need to understand it.”
Drawing comparisons with other global sports, the 63-year-old lead coach at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru questioned the need for the change. “See, whether it is golf or motorsports or football, they go on for three hours, five hours, and they have never diluted it. Hockey has never diluted it. Basketball has not diluted it.”
Highlighting badminton’s global appeal, Vimal added, “Badminton is a sport that is widely watched. It has a big following in China, Indonesia, India and other places. So why do these few people think that it needs to be shortened and they want all the five events to get over in three hours — men’s, women’s, women’s doubles, everything?” Vimal, who is also the Director of the Centre for Badminton Excellence, pointed out that frequent changes have already disrupted the sport.
“They’ve already been fiddling with it for so many years. Badminton is a technical and a physical sport. So it should be… at least this 21 format is working really well and that should be preserved. So that is my biggest appeal.”
Last month, London Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal had also urged BWF to exercise caution regarding proposed scoring changes, maintaining that the current 21-point system preserves the sport’s essential intensity and endurance.
Published on Apr 11, 2026
#Vimal #Kumar #backs #21point #system #calls #real #badminton #appeal #BWF
Former India chief coach Vimal Kumar has made a strong appeal to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to retain the current 21-point, best-of-three scoring format, insisting that it represents the true essence of the sport.
The game’s global governing body has proposed switching to a 3×15 scoring format from the current 3×21 system, with a membership vote on the change scheduled at the BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, on April 25.
Following Ayush Shetty’s sensational win over top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals, Vimal spoke to PTI about the scoring system and the evolution of the young Indian shuttler, who is on the cusp of making history at the Badminton Asia Championships.
“This is real badminton and this needs to be preserved. Now BWF is thinking about reducing the scoring format and fiddling with the scores and such things for commercial reasons. That is not real badminton,” Vimal told PTI.
ALSO READ | Who is Ayush Shetty, the Indian who beat World No. 1 Vitidsarn at Badminton Asia Championships 2026
“I hope they take note of this and preserve it, at least in big events, because badminton is a tough sport. They need to understand it.”
Drawing comparisons with other global sports, the 63-year-old lead coach at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru questioned the need for the change. “See, whether it is golf or motorsports or football, they go on for three hours, five hours, and they have never diluted it. Hockey has never diluted it. Basketball has not diluted it.”
Highlighting badminton’s global appeal, Vimal added, “Badminton is a sport that is widely watched. It has a big following in China, Indonesia, India and other places. So why do these few people think that it needs to be shortened and they want all the five events to get over in three hours — men’s, women’s, women’s doubles, everything?” Vimal, who is also the Director of the Centre for Badminton Excellence, pointed out that frequent changes have already disrupted the sport.
“They’ve already been fiddling with it for so many years. Badminton is a technical and a physical sport. So it should be… at least this 21 format is working really well and that should be preserved. So that is my biggest appeal.”
Last month, London Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal had also urged BWF to exercise caution regarding proposed scoring changes, maintaining that the current 21-point system preserves the sport’s essential intensity and endurance.
Published on Apr 11, 2026
![IPL 2026: Overton is living in an environment where he feels he is backed, says CSK bowling coach Simmons Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach Eric Simmons attributed the team’s improved bowling performance in the victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) to ‘better execution of plans’.After being plundered for 250 runs by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the last game, the CSK bowling group regrouped to defend 212 against DC and earn the side’s first points this season. Simmons suggested that the performance in Bengaluru wasn’t very far off what the team displayed in front of the home fans six days later. “Last game we lost, people looked at it as a huge loss. When we analysed the game, we found it was bigger than it really was. Tonight, things went our way. The guys stuck to the plan, understood the dimensions of the field, and knew where to bowl and not,” he said at the post-match press conference.The star of the night with the ball was English pacer Jamie Overton, who finished with figures of four for 18, a week after being carted for 42 in just three by RCB. The coach said Overton reaped the rewards of sticking to his strengths and understanding what the team requires from him.“He tried something which didn’t work against RCB, but he went back to his strength tonight. He rattled everybody with his pace. When you’re bowling 150 kmph, having an off-pace delivery that is under 120 is really effective,” the South African said.“Sometimes, you bowl the same ball, and the ball goes up in the air, the next time it goes over the fence for six. [Going for runs] doesn’t make you a bad bowler. He’s just living in an environment where he’s feeling he’s backed, and I think that’s important for a bowler in the modern game,” he added. Simmons also spelt out the rationale behind CSK signing the currently-injured Spencer Johnson as a replacement for Nathan Ellis.“Strategically, to have someone like him with his pace and left-arm bowling is really important. We’re not sure how much of a role he’ll play this year, but that’s fine. A lot of scouting is finding out from people who know the individuals. That was certainly done to get an understanding. He’s got a lot of attributes that we were excited about,” Simmons explained.Published on Apr 12, 2026 #IPL #Overton #living #environment #feels #backed #CSK #bowling #coach #Simmons](https://i3.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/no6pjm/article70853249.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/image.jpg?ssl=1 "IPL 2026: Overton is living in an environment where he feels he is backed, says CSK bowling coach Simmons Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach Eric Simmons attributed the team’s improved bowling performance in the victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) to ‘better execution of plans’.After being plundered for 250 runs by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the last game, the CSK bowling group regrouped to defend 212 against DC and earn the side’s first points this season. Simmons suggested that the performance in Bengaluru wasn’t very far off what the team displayed in front of the home fans six days later. “Last game we lost, people looked at it as a huge loss. When we analysed the game, we found it was bigger than it really was. Tonight, things went our way. The guys stuck to the plan, understood the dimensions of the field, and knew where to bowl and not,” he said at the post-match press conference.The star of the night with the ball was English pacer Jamie Overton, who finished with figures of four for 18, a week after being carted for 42 in just three by RCB. The coach said Overton reaped the rewards of sticking to his strengths and understanding what the team requires from him.“He tried something which didn’t work against RCB, but he went back to his strength tonight. He rattled everybody with his pace. When you’re bowling 150 kmph, having an off-pace delivery that is under 120 is really effective,” the South African said.“Sometimes, you bowl the same ball, and the ball goes up in the air, the next time it goes over the fence for six. [Going for runs] doesn’t make you a bad bowler. He’s just living in an environment where he’s feeling he’s backed, and I think that’s important for a bowler in the modern game,” he added. Simmons also spelt out the rationale behind CSK signing the currently-injured Spencer Johnson as a replacement for Nathan Ellis.“Strategically, to have someone like him with his pace and left-arm bowling is really important. We’re not sure how much of a role he’ll play this year, but that’s fine. A lot of scouting is finding out from people who know the individuals. That was certainly done to get an understanding. He’s got a lot of attributes that we were excited about,” Simmons explained.Published on Apr 12, 2026 #IPL #Overton #living #environment #feels #backed #CSK #bowling #coach #Simmons")
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