In its 20^th edition, the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships for the Suhandinata Cup in Nanchang is set to witness a revolutionary change in the scoring system.

The team relay scoring system that will be used for the championships (30 September to 5 October 2024) offers greater opportunities for upcoming badminton nations to challenge traditional powerhouses. Since its debut in 1990, the Suhandinata Cup has been won by only four countries – China, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Coaches Chen Jin and Huang Nanyan at the Youth Training Camp

At the end of a three-day Youth Training Camp conducted for players from upcoming countries ahead of the Suhandinata Cup, former Chinese player and now junior coach Chen Jin stated that he was excited by its possibilities.

“It’s new to me as well. You never know what will happen… perhaps this gives a chance for weaker teams to do well against stronger teams,” Chen said.

The relay system was first introduced at the team event of the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires, with each team being represented by players from different NOCs (National Olympic Committees).

While the draw at the World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2024 consists of a group stage followed by a final stage that will determine overall ranking of teams, each tie consists of 10 matches (two matches each of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles) played for 110 points.

Here are the main features of the relay scoring system:

• The first match will be played to 11 points (change of ends at 6 points).
• The second match will start at the score of the first match and continue from that score, however with the losing player/pair of the first match having a minimum of 5 points or the actual number of points scored, whichever is higher.
• Every subsequent match will be played for the next 11 points from the score of the previous match. The trailing player/pair will start with their actual number of points, or a minimum of a multiple of 5 (5 for the first match, 10 for the second match, 15 for the third match and so on), whichever is higher.
• Thus, the second match will play until one of the players/pairs reach 22 points (change of ends at 17). The third match will start at the score of the second match and continue from that score; however, with the trailing player/pair having a minimum of 10 points or the actual number of points, whichever is higher.
• The ninth match will play until one of the players/pairs reach 99 points (change of ends at 94).
• The 10th and final match will start at the score of the ninth match and continue from that score, with the trailing player/pair of the ninth having a minimum of 45 points or the actual number of points, whichever is higher.
• The 10th match will play until one of the players/pairs reaches 110 points and thereby wins the tie (change of ends at 105).
• No player shall play in more than four matches.
• In case the same player is playing two consecutive matches, they shall not be allowed any additional rest.

Before the team tie starts, a draw will be made between the team managers who will choose the first match to be played.

• The first five matches of the tie must contest one of each of the disciplines (i.e. MS, WS, MD, WD, and XD).
• The winner of the draw will choose the first and third matches.
• The opposing team will choose the second and fourth matches.
• The match not having been chosen will be played fifth.
• The last five matches (matches six to 10) follow the same order as the first five matches already determined.

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