Olympic badminton scandal prompts rule revamp

**craigandy** · 04-25-2013, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Littlejohn

Knock out from first round, but redraw for second, then third rounds, nightmare for organisers but would completely cut out any fixing

You can't just redraw the whole tournament seed 1&2 might meet in R2. If you keep the seeds in place then no need for redraws anyway(remember all reg for amount of players from one country top 3 etc). Regardless if CHN v CHN met in 2nd round there would be a "light match" so still fixing.

**craigandy** · 04-25-2013, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by sjmeister

The simplest solution to the problem (whilst still keeping round robin) would be to blind draw the knock out brackets only after the last RR match has been played. That being said, I am in favor of a 128 draw, 16 double byes for top ranked players, 16 byes for 2nd tier, all countries that want/can afford to send can enter a player/team, else the empties are filled with a 2nd player per country starting at the top ranking downward (max 2 players/teams per country per event). Thoughts?

That is what they are doing see post 1. Unless you mean every one should be redrawn for knockout, but then that would be not so good, as seed 1&2 could meet in second round ruining the tournament anyway. Your knockout plan seems OK but groups allow for more games for the rubbish players which is their main point, you would still get 48 folk going home with one match of maybe 15mins.

**craigandy** · 04-25-2013, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by ChubbyCheshire

The alternative is, like the Commonwealth Games, is have two events - an individual knockout event (and open it up to more countries not just the top players), and a team event, which can either be knockout or on a league basis. That way you are guaranteed more than one game !

Too many matches for players that would be going all the way in team and individual. Could see it again working in a fixing sense as for example poor LCW would be made to play every team match because no depth and LD would basically get rested the whole team event because CHN would win anyways. If they did it the other way around individual then team I think everyone would just be too knackered anyway.

**sjmeister** · 04-25-2013, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by craigandy

That is what they are doing see post 1. Unless you mean every one should be redrawn for knockout, but then that would be not so good, as seed 1&2 could meet in second round ruining the tournament anyway. Your knockout plan seems OK but groups allow for more games for the rubbish players which is their main point, you would still get 48 folk going home with one match of maybe 15mins.

My main reasoning in this stems from my possess of the "Olympic dream" - the best of EVERY country should have the opportunity to compete if willing and able. The olympics will never be the strongest or toughest tournament, but to exclude developing and mid level countries from having the chance to attend and represent their country as the national champion is opposite of the"olympic spirit" - the Olympics should concentrate 99% on 2 things: the sport and the athletes; spectators and fans should be 2nd. Just my opinion.