Ayush Shetty’s comeback win over Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-finals of the 2026 Asian Badminton Championships has reignited the debate over badminton’s scoring system, with coach Vimal Kumar opposing the World Badminton Federation’s proposed move to switch from the current 21-point format to a shorter 15-point broadcast system.
Shetty, 20, scored the biggest win of his career in Ningbo when he came back from the match to beat the world No.1 10-21, 21-19, 21-17. After a one-sided opening game, the Indian settled into the match, stretching the exchanges and forcing Vitidsarno into longer exchanges before taking control in the decider.
The nature of this win is central to Kumar’s argument.
“The semi-final between Ayush Shetty and Kunlavut Vitidsarn was a strong reminder of what our sport really stands for,” Kumar said.
“It was intense, demanding and deeply tactical. Ayush’s victory underscored one critical truth: there are no shortcuts in our sport. Physical endurance, resilience and mental strength are non-negotiable.”
The World Badminton Federation’s proposal to shorten matches was driven by the need to make the sport more television-friendly, with narrower transmission windows and quicker match turnarounds.
However, Kumar believes that this approach can change the fundamental nature of badminton.
“This move risks reducing a sport based on endurance and skill to one designed only to fit into television windows,” he said. “The idea of compressing five events into a three-hour broadcast slot cannot come at the expense of the essence of the sport.”
Shetty’s run in the tournament only underlined this. The world No. 25 defeated higher-ranked opponents such as Li Shi Feng, Jonatan Christie and Kunlavut Vitidsarn to reach the final. With early exits for Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu, the 20-year-old carried India’s challenge deep into the contest.
Against Vitidsarn, the match did not change in quick volleys, but in sustained pressure. After losing the opening game, Shetty held back in the turnovers, forced longer exchanges and gradually changed the tempo of the match in his favor.
For Kumar, that’s exactly what the current scoring system allows.
“Badminton is not just about speed. It’s about attrition, strategy, adaptability and sustained excellence,” he said. “The current scoring system allows contrasting styles to compete on equal terms. This balance is the soul of the game.”
Shortening the format, he argued, would limit the room for recovery and tactical adjustments.
“If you shorten the game, you’re not modernizing badminton – you’re reducing it,” added Kumar.
Shetty now faces China’s Shi Yuqi in the final and has a chance to end the breakthrough run. But even before the climactic clash, his semi-final was already woven into the larger conversation about the direction of the sport.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
12 Apr 2026 09:48 IST
