Other reason is to have this format, most country can save cost, meaning they will not send too many players and with hew format, They may have a new hope that anyone can win the cup...I see China has more advantages with new formatwho can beat China in Uber cup now even with new format?
Instead of having this kind of "mickey mouse" tournaments, BWF can create team awards at one or all four SSP tournaments. The award would be based on the best team results for each BA. For example, using top two MS and the top MD finishes for a pseudo Thomas Cup. Other combination can also be entertained or altered at different tournaments. This way, additional interest can be created without additional burden on the schedule and the bank account.
How about 2MS and 2MD. If it's tied at 2-2 all, then it goes to Ace match. They draw lots to see if it goes to MD ace match or MS ace match. Then both teams can choose any player from their squad, even if he's already played. For Malaysia, LCW could play MS1 and MS3.
Rename it the Mickey Mouse Cup Humour withstanding, a poll has been added with more reasonable choices.
This will be laughing stock for China. They can win whatever format sooner or later if they missed this time. China has all capability in singles or doubles.
the best of 3 formats can finish with just 2 matches in less than an hour. can you imagine how difficult to find sponsors willing to take the risk for such possible short exposure! even the paying public will think twice to go or not. i say, bring back the best of 9 over 2 days
Thanks Mr. Rudy. Please advocate for 3 doubles and 2 singles to increase the number of players participated in the team. Otherwise, don't change the format at all. Pruning into 2 doubles + 1 single would result in nothing but making badminton less attractive.
I was serious about embedding team competition in SSP events. This can truly differentiate and enhance the status of SSP events. This would also relieve the increasingly over-crowded schedule. We can then have less frequent (every four years in between the Olympics and WC, in conjunction with holding WC every two years instead of every year) but more special team competitions in home and away format.
The other problem is Thomas/ Uber is not popular among Europeans, only Sudirman Cup attracts more countries...I think that's one of the reason BWF wanted to cut down to 3 matches to attract more countries' participation...I won't be surprised if may be only INA and may be China who will be against it..I see it is more advantages to china if it is 2 Singles and 1 Double.
Let me elaborate more on my embedded team competition idea. The result is simply by the best finishes from all disciplines, the lowest position total wins (e.g. 1 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 10).To make it more interesting, each team can designate a team representative in each discipline and only their positions count. For this to work, the winner between teammates will automatically carry on as the team representative to avoid any complications in those matches. This adds to the suspense.To make it even more interesting, the designated team representatives don't have to cover all disciplines, i.e. a team can pick two MD pairs as their representative and no representative in WS. However, there must be at least one male and one female representative. This levels the field even further by favoring teams that do not have a full set of top players in all disciplines.Each SSP produces a winning team for the team trophy for that tournament and the results from all SSP events determine the grand champion.This competition adds extra incentives for teams to send their best players to the SSP events and prepare for them. This competition also makes the matches between teammates more interesting as the outcome carries extra honors. Remember, no additional burden on the schedule and little additional expenses (only more prize money and trophies are needed but no extra expense for travel or staging the event.)
With the arguments of saving the traveling costs, more countries to join, more countries have chances o win, shorter hours on TV...this will be easily to win the berate of council members, where the majorities are non Asian countries.
sounds as ridiculous as asking chinese table tennis association to train other countries for 6 years. if u dont think u can win, just withdraw and let others have a shot. changing the rules wont make the sport any more competitive. in fact it makes it more boring since it is decided quicker than before. the amateur era of sports is long over. pro sports dont need to change rules to benefit weaker competition. weaker competition needs to better themselves to succeed in a higher level.
If BWF changes the format, eventually there would be nobody watching Thomas/Uber Cup and the club leagues will be even more popular, especially with the increasing prizes.
Agree, CHN has two formidable MS to win Thomas Cup in new format, really slim chance for others to beat them.It's already 30 years since the current format was introduced in 1984 edition.
Interesting poll results so far. 75% want to keep to the present format. Bit surprised that 3 doubles and 2 singles has not got more votes. I remember in the days of 1998 and 2000, China had strong singles players. But Indonesia still won. Very, very exciting lineups. China only really came to winning because Fu Hai Feng and Cai Yun became a reliable men's doubles pair (and Indonesia went into decline). China also appointed a new team coach in the 1990's who also turned China into the consistent results that it turns out today.
Hmmmm [MENTION=7]Cheung[/MENTION], only limited numbers had participated. May be around 20 or 30?. That does not reflect the true situation.
INA had two formidable MD pairs at that time, Ricky/Rexy and Candra/Sigit while CHN was represented by Dong Jiong and Sun Jun but not really strong on their third singles. CHN had really powerful MS in mid 80's-1990 (Yang Yang-Xiong Guobao-Zhao Jianhua) also when they're represented by new Chinese trio (Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai, Chen Jin).
