Badminton Mischief – OpEd
Of course, Badminton is not like cricket — which is a total farce with fake records being considered by national and international awards and honors, mostly by payment basis — but there still exists a certain “mischief” that is spoiling its image as a genuine sport.
There is a serious flaw in badminton scheduling and timings as some vested interests seem to decide the outcomes in some measures. BWF deliberately makes weak candidates play against the top players, thereby letting the big players win points and easy money, while the newcomers and weak ones leave the field in the first round.
That is bad. Not because the weak and new players should play longer, but the top players get all the benefits as they don’t face each other in the first rounds. BWF needs to make two categories of standard players and weak players and let them play against their own level so that they can learn and stay on for first two or three rounds and stabilize themselves in due course.
If the new and low-seeded players play separately for the first two rounds, a couple of them could reach the upper rounds, even if they don’t win any title, but they would gain experience and expertise. If they keep losing in the first round they might exit from badminton once andfor all.
Then there is the issue of the time table and scheduling by BWF. Some candidates generally do not have to face strong candidates as per scheduling, which helps them gain points and easy money.
One fails to understand why the BW lords keep changing the beginning time of tournament each day, from 9 am to 12 pm to 4 pm to 6 pm etc. Why don’t they start the tournament at one fixed time each day of the tournament?
Clearly there is some mischief in both scheduling, mixing up the weak candidates with top players, and in the times for tournaments.
Even the USA and Canada, without any good players, have begun “Open” tournaments for the lower-ranked players, and both these countries could even possible help some other country because of Asia-pivot politics.
Will BWF bosses make changes appropriately so that no mischief sneaks into the tournament and titles?
Obviously, some countries gain from these types of activities. Titles, money and points should be earned properly and not by mischief by teams and officials.
Dr. Ruff .
looks like you are new to badminton.. If you let #1 player play with #2 player at the beginning of the tournament, #2 player will exit at the 1st game . And that will make rankings upside down… Hence current scheduling is the best way to keep the rankings in optimal way. But you also have a point. to help new players , get some exposure , what is necessary is more tournaments organized around the world.. in addition to WBF championship.