Source: REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
[Saba Sports News] Since the start of the badminton competition at the Paris Olympics, besides the impressive performances of the athletes, many fans have noticed some changes at the badminton venue. For example, chairs have been placed on one side of the main referee for the players to sit on. During the group stage, Chinese men’s doubles pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang sat on the chairs and chatted about LV and Yonex in between matches, attracting fans’ attention. In the past, the equipment at some major international badminton venues rarely considered providing chairs for players to rest. Even during the breaks between games or when coaches entered the court for guidance, players would always remain standing. Compared to other sports like tennis, badminton competitions have several flaws in the rules. Badminton matches adopt a 21-point system, and the rules state that players only have a 1-minute break at the 11-point mark of each game. During this break, players can drink water, wipe sweat, and receive coaching. Apart from that, during the match, regardless of how many shots the players have played or how far they have run, the referees do not allow players to drink water or wipe sweat, as it would be considered delaying the game and result in a yellow card warning. Now, at the Paris Olympics badminton competition, chairs have been arranged for the players at the venue, making the supporting services of intense matches more humane. It can be seen that there is a trend of continuous reform in badminton events.