Is badminton going the hockey way?

THE INTERNATIONAL Badminton Federation's plans to glamourise the game may be with good intentions but it could spell trouble for Asia, the sport's super power.

Top badminton experts in India feel that a proposed change in the men's scoring system, which will shorten the game from the current 15 points to seven, could give Europeans a big edge over Asians.

Much like the advantage Europeans gained after hockey's world body, the FIH, moved the sport from grass to synthetic surface and changed the substitution rules.

Today, the Netherlands is the World and Olympic champion and Spain the silver medallist in both events.

At its recent annual general body meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the IBF decided to try out a `miniature' version in the men's section. And instead of the present three games, the new format will have five.

The world junior championship, in Guangzhou (China) in November, will be the first major testing base for the new system. If the response is good, it will be implemented.

It is a fact that though Europe has produced brilliant players like the legendary Morten Frost, current world No. 1 Peter Gade Christensen and Olympic champion Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen, all from Denmark, it has never been able to lay its hands on the prestigious Thomas Cup, the symbol of supremacy in world team badminton.

In fact, the Thomas Cup has remained in Asia right from its inception, in 1948. And even here, the honour has been shared by just three countries - Malaysia, China and current champion Indonesia. Denmark has made it to the Thomas Cup final six times but has always remained the second best.

Under these circumstances, Asians have reasons to worry, for the main proposers and campaigners of the shortened version are from Europe. And history tells us that whenever Europeans propose a change in sport, they first try things out in their backyard before bringing it in the open. And give themselves a big advantage. Hockey's synthetic surface is a classic case.

``Asians stand to lose the advantage they held all these years. Badminton is a very demanding game physically and Asians depend on a neat mix of skill and fitness and thrive in longer matches. Thus, the shortened system, with a lot of rest breaks, will give Europeans the edge,'' said former international Vimal Kumar, the BPL-Prakash Padukone Academy coach.

``It might not suit the Indians even otherwise, for we are perenial slow starters. And we will have fewer points to fight for, 35 instead of the present 45,'' said Vimal. The game will be over by the time we get into the groove.

If the seven-pointer is implemented, we will have to change our whole approach towards matches, feels P. Gopi Chand, who at No. 18 is now the world's top ranked Indian.

``Currently, we are effective only after a few points but in the new system we will have to adopt a faster approach, look for early openings. We will have to go directly on court and get quick points. For, a 4-0 lead for the opposition could be dangerous. And since the games are shorter, there will be greater speed involved. The rallies will be faster,'' said the national champion.

``But irrespective of what it means to Indians, I think overall it is good for the game. The duration of the game will be shorter and more spectator-friendly,'' said Gopi Chand.

Europeans will thrive under the new system since their game is power-oriented, said Gopi, adding that the Asian style is more fitness- oriented.

Prakash Padukone, the Badminton Association of India's executive president, - he has since resigned from his post - admitted that the smaller games would be a setback for Indians. ``But the game cannot remain the same. We have to keep pace with the changes, build our strategy around them. And for the seven-pointers, we will have to change our strategies, especially our warm-up strategy, to suit the new system,'' he said.

Prakash also assured that the Asian domination of the sport did not face a big threat in the immediate future. ``Asians have a very good system.

It will be difficult for others to build this overnight. Of course, Europeans may enjoy a slight advantage with the changes, they may have a few more players coming on the world stage but only slowly,'' said the former all-England champion.

With short games, the IBF hopes that badminton would attract prime-time television, the way tennis does. But they may not exactly do the trick, feels Vimal.

``It's true, in the present pattern, the excitement begins towards the end, when the score reaches 13-all. And by chopping down a match to five games of seven points, Europeans feel that it will be a thriller all the way. And that the frequent breaks would give more ad-slots for television, making the sport commercially attractive,'' said Vimal.``But it will be very tough to make the game television- friendly. Often, if you notice, the TV cameras are unable to sight the shuttle. The `bird' is too fast for them. Something has to be done about this.

``My personal opinion is...make the game more attractive. Look at basketball, the sport suffered a crisis in the seventies but now it is very attractive at the top level. Something similar has to be done,'' opined Vimal.

It is a fact that badminton lacks lively characters who can attract big crowds. We don't see stars like the glamour girl Anna Kournikova, the talkative Williams sisters or `Miss Grunts' Monica Seles in the sport. Probably, badminton stars lead very quiet lives. Clearly, badminton needs a touch of drama and a lot of spice.

And probably, Asian nations are not very pleased with the efforts taken by the IBF to popularise the sport. The Kuala Lumpur meeting gave a few indications in this regard. The BAI proposal to shift the IBF headquarters from England is clearly a pointer.

There is a general feeling that the overheads are too high in England. That a major part of the revenue goes towards administration and little for the development of the game.

If the proposal passes the vote, Malaysia could be one of the contenders for the new IBF headquarters. Has the quiet East run out of patience!

STAN RAYAN

Kochi

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