The Badminton World Federation (BWF) will further test its 25-second time at the Indonesia Masters next week as part of ongoing trials at selected World Tour events. The rule, which aims to reduce tactical lapses and standardize the game, has drawn mixed reactions from players and coaches. Under the system, both server and receiver must be ready to play within 25 seconds after the umpire updates the score, barring medical intervention or court maintenance.
China’s world number two Wang Zi Yi welcomed the initiative and said players will adapt if the rule is applied consistently. “If the rule is in place, players will adapt to it. It will solve the problem of delaying players,” Wang told PTI. However, Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen expressed skepticism, stating: “I have to say I’m a bit skeptical about it. If the referees take good care of the match and make sure it runs smoothly, I don’t think there will be any problem. I don’t think it will deal with tactical delays.”
The 25-second rule allows unauthorized players to dry off, drink water, or apply cold spray if they are ready within the time limit. Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei noted that recovery time can be insufficient after long rallies. “I think when we finish long rallies, I feel 20-25 seconds is not enough, but we can try,” she said.
A BWF analysis of hundreds of Major Championship and World Tour matches found an average of 22 seconds between points in uninterrupted rallies, compared to nine seconds of actual rally time. The federation sees 25 seconds as a balanced compromise between recovery and match progress. However, Korean singles coach Hyunil Lee argued, “Twenty-five seconds is a very long time. It should be enough, maybe even less.”
Former Indian B doubles player Sumeeth Reddy emphasized the need for clarity and fairness. “In general, it’s always better to standardize norms so that there is a certain rule in place,” said Reddy, who works with Satwiksaraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. He noted: “Some matches end quickly because the players don’t take breaks, while some take forever because of repeated breaks. From a spectator’s point of view, it gets boring.” Reddy acknowledged the tactical breaks and the skills needed to secure them, but conceded that time clocks could help reduce unnecessary delays.
Reddy also cautioned against strict enforcement after strenuous rallies: “After 100 or 150 rounds of rallying, you can’t expect a player to be ready in 20 to 25 seconds. That buffer has to be there.” He added: “I think 25 seconds is a decent time, especially in doubles where the rallies are shorter, but emotion has to come into play.” Former India player Arvind Bhat supported the move, saying, “Right now it’s very haphazard. It depends on your relationship with the umpire. With the time clock, it’s ruled out. It becomes fair for both players.”
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
January 18, 2026