Leading badminton players have weighed in on the Badminton World Federation’s proposed 15×3 scoring system and said athletes will adapt to it over time if it becomes official.
World No. 2 women’s doubles player M. Thinaah said trying the shorter format could have positive effects, particularly in women’s doubles matches that are often lengthy and physically demanding. In a recent interview on The Average Not Average podcast, she described the idea as something new worth testing.
Thinaah noted that with games reduced to 15 points, every point becomes more significant, increasing intensity and urgency from the start. She said losing several points early in the game could have a greater psychological impact under the shorter format than it does in the current 21-point system.
Two-time world champion Viktor Axelsen also shared his thoughts alongside Thinaah. He predicted that initial matches under the new system would be shorter but said players would adjust as they gain experience with it. Axelsen suggested that once athletes become familiar with the format, match dynamics would settle and fans would enjoy the different rhythm.
So far, the 15×3 scoring system has only been trialled in selected lower-level tournaments and not yet at any BWF World Tour events.
A final decision on whether to adopt the new scoring format will be made on April 25, when members of the Badminton World Federation vote at the federation’s annual general meeting in Horsens, Denmark, alongside the Thomas and Uber Cups.
The proposal forms part of an ongoing effort to enhance the sport’s pace and spectator appeal while balancing competitive fairness.
