Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal has urged the Badminton World Federation to exercise caution over proposed changes to the sport’s scoring system, saying the current format preserves badminton’s intensity and endurance.
The governing body has proposed switching from the existing 3x21 scoring format to a 3x15 system.
Member associations are scheduled to vote on the proposal at the BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, on April 25.
Speaking to Press Trust of India, Nehwal said badminton has a strong tradition and warned that changes should not affect the quality of rallies or the competitive balance of the sport.
She noted that tournaments such as the All England Open Badminton Championships and the BWF World Championships have historically been defined by their intensity and endurance.
The BWF has also announced changes to the BWF World Tour structure. Under the revamped format, five Super 1000 tournaments across Asia and Europe will introduce a group stage in singles featuring 48 players before knockout rounds. Doubles events will feature 32-pair knockout draws, and each Super 1000 tournament will run for 11 days across two weekends.
Nehwal also raised concerns about player welfare, saying the packed international calendar leaves little time for recovery and increases the risk of injuries and burnout among elite players.
She said the schedule should allow better recovery periods between major tournaments and that teams should receive more support in sports science and rehabilitation.
The former world number one also praised Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen after he finished runner-up at the recent All England Open, where he lost the men’s singles final to Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei.
Nehwal said reaching the final of the prestigious tournament twice shows Sen’s consistency and suggested the title may not be far away if he continues performing at that level.
She also highlighted the importance of fitness, discipline, and mental toughness for young players, referring to the standards set during her era alongside PV Sindhu.