IBL rewrites points structure

A new scoring system for the $1 million Indian Badminton League (IBL) has created quite a buzz among the coaches of the six franchises who described it as "interesting" and "challenging". The six franchises on Sunday met to discuss and chalk out their strategy for Monday's players' auction when they were informed about the new scoring system which will be used during the 90 matches of the inaugural event.

According to the new scoring system, there will be two breaks of 60 secs at 7 and 14 points respectively in each of the first two games and if the match is pushed to the decider, then there will be a break after the sixth point. Moreover, while the first two games will be a race to the 21 points, without the standard two-point gap, the player who reaches 11 points first in the decider will emerge as winner of the match.

"It is a new scoring system. It would be interesting to see how the players deal with this innovative points format. It will make the games more competitive and open. With this new system players can hope to beat a higher-ranked player," said former India coach Vimal Kumar, who will be mentoring the 'Banga Beats' in the IBL.

However, legendary Malaysian coach Rashid Sidek, who trains World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, said the new scoring system will help the attacking player. "It will help the players who have an attacking game. The breaks will upset the rhythm of the players but still it will be difficult to beat someone like Lee Chong Wei," said Rashid, who is the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medallist and two-time Commonwealth Games champion.

The other standard scoring system rules will remain the same - such as both sides will get a 2-minute break between first and second games and second and third game respectively, while after the sixth point in the decider, players will change service courts.

The format of the matches has also been tweaked a bit as there will be five games - two men's singles, one women's singles and a men's and mixed doubles tie. India's national coach Pullela Gopichand, one of the members of the Governing council of the IBL, said the new scoring system has been adopted to make the tie shorter so that five matches can be completed within three hours.

Former All England champion Mohammad Hafiz Hashim of Malaysia, who will be coaching the Lucknow Warriors, felt the scoring system is exciting but the breaks might slow down the game in between.

"The system point will be exciting because in the third game they have just 11 points. The point system is new in badminton. It is not in line with the BWF. Normally in 21 points there is an interval at 11 points but here in one game there will be two intervals," said the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games champion. Former Andra Pradesh player Rajender J Kumar, who will be coaching Hyderabad Hotshots, said the new scoring system is challenging.

"The point system is interesting and in a way gives the players a level playing field. It remains to be seen how the players take it. A lot of strategy will go into the match," he said.