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Starting successful 2027, badminton volition regenerate the long-standing 3x21 format with the 3x15 scoring system, with the sport’s governing assemblage betting connected the latter’s perceived quality to bring greater excitement and amended subordinate payment by shortening matches.
But the legendary Prakash Padukone felt that a mediate way could person been found. Speaking connected the sidelines of an lawsuit to denote a concern betwixt Padukone School of Badminton and Shriram Finance connected Tuesday (June 2, 2026), the 70-year-old drew a parallel with cricket to buttress his point.
“Try both, similar you person T20 cricket, 50-over matches and Tests. Why can’t we bash that successful badminton? It has been played for 15 to 20 years and radical are utilized to it. Let it continue.
“Bring successful the caller format without disrupting the existing system. Maybe commencement with 5 oregon six tournaments successful a twelvemonth and dilatory bring it up. Some players volition take 1 format implicit the different and commencement specialising,” the erstwhile All England champion added.
While it remains to beryllium seen however the Indian players adapt, Padukone stated that they should beryllium winning much tournaments.
On Sunday, doubles brace Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Singapore Open, their archetypal rubric since 2024. Since July 2022, P.V. Sindhu has conscionable 1 singles trophy – Syed Modi International successful December 2024.
And nary Indian men’s singles subordinate has won an elite Super 1000-level crown since K. Srikanth astatine the 2017 Denmark Open.
“They request to beryllium overmuch much consistent, considering the benignant of enactment they get,” Padukone said. “They should not beryllium blessed winning conscionable 1 tournament. Even if the ranking goes down, it doesn’t matter. People volition retrieve trophies, similar All England and the Olympics.
“Rankings are important but you should triumph large tournaments and execute the No. 1 ranking. Not by playing much tournaments and reaching quarterfinals and semifinals. That’s my view.
“Look astatine tennis. Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Sinner and Alcaraz… they each triumph large tournaments, scope No. 1 and are remembered.”
