[Official] Is An Se-young facing a real 'bad omen'? The rule change to the '15-point system' is finalized after 20 years

*This content was translated by AI.

Badminton rules, which have been conducted under the 21st-point, 3-game format (3×21), will change to a 15-point, 3-game format (3×15) starting next year. This marks the first rule change in 20 years since the introduction of the 21st-point system in 2006. While some point out that this rule change targets An Se-young (Samsung Life), known as the 'world's strongest' player with exceptional stamina, the Korea Badminton Association plans to closely analyze the impact of the rule change and support athletes to achieve their best results.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) officially announced on the 25th (Korean time) at its annual general meeting in Høje-Taastrup, Denmark, that the new scoring system of 3×15 points has been finally approved. The BWF had attempted to introduce the 11th-point, 5-game format (5×11) in 2018 and 2021 but failed each time; however, the proposed 3×15 scoring system has now been finalized. The rule change received more than two-thirds of the votes from member nations during the voting at the annual general meeting on that day.

The newly introduced 3×15 scoring system reduces the points needed to win each game by six compared to the existing 3×21 format. The player who first reaches 15 points wins that game, and the player who wins two games first wins the match. In a 14-14 deuce situation, a player must win by a two-point margin to secure victory, but deuce play will only proceed up to 21 points. In the third game, players will switch courts when one player first reaches 8 points.

The BWF expects that the rule change will increase the importance of each point, thereby heightening the excitement of matches and making it possible to predict match duration, which will lead to more efficient tournament scheduling. The federation also aims to enhance the commercial value of badminton through optimized broadcast scheduling. Additionally, the rule change is expected to prevent unnecessary long matches, reducing player fatigue and injury risks, and naturally have a positive impact on maintaining players' performance levels.

However, some voices argue that this rule change is intended to curb An Se-young, who has firmly established herself as the world's strongest women's singles player with overwhelming skill. An Se-young excels in solid defense and stamina; as the number of points per game decreases, the pace of matches will accelerate, and the importance of early-game momentum will grow. Since the opportunities for An Se-young to fully leverage her greatest strength will diminish, it is analyzed that this change will inevitably be disadvantageous to her. This could become a 'bad omen' for An Se-young.

Conversely, if An Se-young adapts quickly to the new rules, there is a high possibility that it could actually work in her favor. Badminton tournaments are held with very short intervals, and An Se-young has consistently pushed through grueling schedules, reaching finals in most of the tournaments she has entered. As a result, physical burdens accumulate as the season progresses, sometimes leading to actual injuries. However, under the 3rd×15 scoring system, she can reduce her physical burden even slightly. For An Se-young, who has already endured such a demanding schedule, this rule change could prove to be a welcome development.

In fact, after winning the World Tour Finals at the end of last year, An Se-young positively responded to the possibility of rule changes on her way home, stating, "I think there will be difficulties at the beginning, but as we play more matches and adapt, it should lead to good results." She added, "As the number of points decreases, I think the physical burden will also be reduced. I even feel it might be a good thing."

In response to the rule change after 20 years, the Korea Badminton Association also plans to go all out to support its athletes. The association stated, "We will closely analyze the impact of this change on the national team's match strategies and provide full support so that athletes can perfectly adapt to the new system and achieve the best results on the world stage."

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*This content was translated by AI.