Changes to make badminton No.1 racquet sport on the anvil

Mumbai, Nov 16 (UNI) The International Badminton Federation (IBF) is in the process of introducing major changes which would not just revolutionise the game, but also make it the number one racquet sport in the world.

The Deputy President of IBF Datuk Punch Gunalan, talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Indian International Badminton Championship, said the worldbody was in the process of developing a synthetic shuttle which would incorporate all the characteristics of a feather shuttle.

Elaborating on the need of synthetic shuttle cork, Mr Gunalan said ''Badminton is the only sport that uses living beings to manufacture sporting equipment. We need to change over to synthetic equipment''.

''We have two scientists working on a synthetic shuttle which will have properties of a feather shuttle. Yonex is also working on it. Right now the plastic shuttle collapses after a player smashes it, and it is impossible to save a point if you are trying to spin it'', he said.

''The world body is in the process of bringing about changes in the tournament structure from next year'', he added.

''Earlier, we had events graded into seven stars. Now we will have levels. Level one is all IBF events including Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, Sudhirman Cup and World Championships and Olympics. High scoring points will be attached to these events'', he said.

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