It was decided at the Council meeting in Seoul on 6 December 2008 that a new competition format will be introduced for the championship. This is because under the current format, a team placed in the lower tier will take several years before they can be promoted to the top tier and have a chance of winning the trophy. The new format will give ALL teams an opportunity to win the Sudirman Cup. Details will be finalised soon.
Most likely a knockout format from the 1st match, then. There is no other way to get all teams to have the same opportunity, and keep the group stages for an 8-day tournament.
I prefer format like those of the final round of 16 countries of the World Cup Soocer where last champ & host country are in the final round of 16 automatically.
Confirmed and as reported here.. http://badzine.info/index.php?optio...to-change-format&catid=61:newsflash&Itemid=76 Next host of Sudirman Cup is still unknown, but only 2 cities (1 in Europe and 1 in Asia) have applied for it (i'm guessing UK and Malaysia). Presentation will be made this coming December to select the host.
Council agreed to introduce a top group of 12 teams, to be split into four subgroups of 3,the winners of which through to the knock out stage. Further details to be presented at May 2010 council meeting.