Date:10/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/10/stories/2006031010731800.htm

Sport - Badminton

IBF planning World League

BANGALORE: The International Badminton Federation, at its executive board meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on March.4, has decided to examine the possibility of starting a World League in 2009.

The League will bring together players from different nations for a period of about three months at a time.

According to IBF, The league will be divided into two groups of eight teams each. The eight teams will then play a league with home and away fixtures.

The number of matches will be limited to two men's singles and two men's doubles with the new rally point scoring system. .

Among the issues discussed at the Executive Board meeting was the re-branding of IBF with the possibility of a name change to Badminton World Federation.

This proposal will be tabled at the Annual General Meeting in Tokyo, Japan in May.

The Executive Board also decided to introduce a "Loyalty Card" which will be used as a membership card for fans, media, the general public as well as players and officials.

At a minimum charge, the cardholders would have easy access to tickets, badminton products, sportswear and other rewards.

The Events Committee has proposed a new tournament structure, as announced by Chairman, Paisan Rangsikitpho.

It was also decided that the world ranking system will be based on a more parabolic calculation rather than linear, thereby giving more value to the points earned by winners of events.

IBF is also in the final stages of confirming with a sponsor for an official "World Cup" event with $500,000 prize money and limited only to the top players of the world. — Special Correspondent