Two days' competition have passed and today's results will determine who will enter the Semi-Finals.

At this stage, it may be interesting to note the time taken for the matches during the first two days. We all knew beforehand that this new 21 points scoring system will be shorter as there is only one serve allowed and you either win or lose a point on your serve as opposed to the former service changeover for singles and two serves for doubles under the 3x15 points system.

But how much shorter? Is there a difference between teams of equal or unequal strengths?

The following analysis derived from the statistics from the ABC (Asian Badminton Confederation) website gives a clue:

TC (Thomas Cup)
UC (Uber Cup)

(Competing Countries) (Result) (Games Won/Games Lost) (Total Time Taken)

TC
1. Chinese Taipei vs Sri Lanka 5-0 (10/0) 89 min (1 hr 29 min)
2. India vs Singapore 4-1 (9/5) 195 min (3 hr 15 min)
3. Malaysia vs Nepal 5-0 (10/0) 94 min (1 hr 34 min)
4. Iran vs Pakistan 2-3 (5/7) 176 min (2 hr 56 min)
5. Thailand vs Vietnam 4-1 (8/4) 166 min (2 hr 46 min)

The shortest match was no. 1, when Chinese Taipei trounced Sri Lanka 5 nil, without losing any games. An average of about 18 min were consumed for each match. A bit lopsided in strength.

Surprisingly, although Singapore lost to India by a seemingly big margin of 1-4 matches, however 4 of the 5 ties went to three games, which actually suggested that the contestants were quite well matched and thus it took more than 3 hours to complete the proceedings. An average of 39 min for each match.

Iran and Pakistan are considered minnows in the badminton world, yet they both put up a spirited fight stretching the five matches to a total of almost 3 hours, an average of 35 min per match.

UC
1. Malaysia vs Iran 5-0 (10/0) 95 min (1 hr 35 min)
2. Korea vs Chinese Taipei 3-2 (8/5) 217 min (3 hrs 37 min)
3. Hong Kong vs India 3-2 (7/4) 139 min (2 hr 19 min)
4. Thailand vs Pakistan 5-0 (10/0) 103 min (1 hr 43 min)
5. Thailand vs Singapore 2-3 (5/6) 180 min (3 hr)
6. India vs Pakistan 5-0 (10/0) 75 min (1 hr 15 min)
7. Malaysia vs Indonesia 3-2 (6/5) 181 min (3 hr)

The two shortest matches were Malaysia vs Iran and India vs Pakistan, where the losers lost all the 5 matches. It clearly showed the uneveness in team strength, Iran and Pakistan being the two weakest teams in this tournament.

However, the three matches, nos. 2, 5 and 7 above, were won on similar scores of 3-2 thereby suggesting that the contestants were quite evenly matched. Reflective of this was the time of 3 hours or more taken for them to complete, an average of 36 min taken for each match.

Summing up, it would appear that well-contested matches should take 30 min or more on average to complete but when we encounter a 3-gamers, it should take longer as in the case of the matches between India and Singapore for the TC. An average of 40 min for the record. The closely-fought second singles match between Arvind Bhat and Aaron Tan, with scores of 17-21, 21-12, 21-18 lasted 51 min.

And for the UC, the longest matches came from:

1. 56 min -
1st Singles: Cheng Shao Chien (Taipei) bt Seo Yoon Hee (Korea) 15-21, 23-21, 21-12.

2. 55 min -
2nd Singles: Norshaliza Baharum (Msia) bt Maria Kristin Yulianti (Indon) 21-14, 10-21, 21-19.

3. 50 min -
1st Singles: Li Li (Spore) bt Salkjit Ponsana (Thai) 21-6, 14-21, 21-12.
3rd Singles: Pai Min Jie (Taipei) bt Lee Yun Hwa (Korea) 11-21, 21-18, 21-13
1st Doubles: Lee Hyo Jung/Lee Kyung Won (Korea) bt Chien Yu Chin?Cheng Wen Hsing (Taipei) 18-21, 21-18, 21-13


With the semi-finals and finals around the corner, one would expect more evenly contested matches. But would any of them last more than an hour? We'll have to wait and see! :D

Based on the report. I think a normal tournament for Finals will finish in an average 2-1/2hrs.

Based on the report, I think it's better for TV live to use 3X25 or 5X15 instead of 3X21 scoring system.

Based on the report. I think a normal tournament for Finals will finish in an average 2-1/2hrs.

If we assume that the finalists are well-matched, it would appear 3 hours should be the norm. Now which TC countries will be considered under this category? China vs Denmark/Malaysia or Indonesia? ;)

As for the UC, probable finalist against giant China may be Korea, but it may proved to be lopsided and match completed within 2 1/2 hours! :crying:

I believe the 'magic' score number here is 11 or thereabout. Eleven points is the ideal time for the 1 minute rest, from the TV perspective. The new system, although 21 points, is actually 2 segments with 1 minute rest at 11 points. That is also the reason why table tennis has 11 points game. Anything over 11 points could be too long for TV.
Ideally it would be better to have 5 x 21 for men's singles, men's, women's, and mixed, doubles, and 3 x 21 for women's singles. But these could result in very long games in a tournament. Unlike tennis where real interest is only on the men's and women's singles, in badminton all the five formats (MS, WS, MD, WD, MX) are equally watchable. So I think the proposed system is a good compromise.

Hi Eepak,

Now that you're online, how do like the following pics, obviously not of TC and UC quality! Regards to all your fellow playmates! :D