Indian badminton players will begin adapting to a new era of scoring from this month after the Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed the introduction of the 3×15 rally-point system across the country’s domestic circuit.The revised format will make its debut at the Yonex-Sunrise All India Senior Ranking Tournament, scheduled to be held at the Regional Sports Centre in Ernakulam from July 7 to 14.Under the updated rules, matches will continue to follow a best-of-three-games format, but each game will now be played to 15 points instead of the traditional 21. Players or pairs must still secure a two-point advantage after 14-all to win a game. If the score reaches 20-all, the next point will decide the winner, with each game capped at 21 points.The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is set to introduce the same scoring system in international badminton from January next year. By implementing the format early, the BAI aims to ensure Indian shuttlers are fully accustomed to the changes before they come into force globally.“This decision has been taken to ensure that players across all age groups develop familiarity and competitive adaptability to the revised scoring format, thereby ensuring a smooth transition when the system is adopted internationally,” BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra said in a release.Apart from the revised scoring, several match procedures have also been updated. The mid-game interval will now be taken once the leading player or pair reaches eight points, replacing the previous 11-point break. In the deciding third game, players will continue to change ends, with the switch now occurring during the 60-second interval at eight points. The 120-second break between games remains unchanged, while the winner of the previous game will still serve first in the next game.The new 3×15 format will be implemented across all domestic competitions organised by the BAI, including Zonal Championships and Domestic Ranking Tournaments in the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Senior and Masters (Veterans) categories. It will also be used in every stage of the National Championships, from the Under-11 age group through to the Senior and Masters divisions.With the global rollout scheduled for next year, India’s early adoption is expected to help its players adjust more quickly to a format designed to make matches faster, more intense and tactically demanding.
