New format will make IBL more open: Delhi smashers

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New Delhi: Star shuttlers of Krrish Delhi Smashers today gave a thumbs up to the new scoring system for the USD one million Indian Badminton League (IBL) with their star icon Jwala Gutta saying it will make the game faster and more aggressive.
The 29-year-old from Hyderabadi believes the new format in the IBL will make it an exciting tournament, throwing up some interesting results. "The format is different and anybody can win in this format and we have a good team. We played the format today at the practice. The shorter the game, the faster it becomes. It is going to be more aggressive and fast badminton," said the Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
"Even it is Lee Chong Wei, we can pull it off in this format. Even if one is 7-0, one can turn the tables. The game can change. Of course it can go against us also, so it is going to be tricky," Jwala added.
According to the new scoring system, there will be two breaks of 60 seconds at 7 and 14 points respectively in each of the first two games and if the match is pushed to the decider, then there will be a break after the sixth point.
Moreover, while the first two games will be a race to the 21 points, without the standard two-point gap, the player who reaches 11 points first in the decider will emerge as winner of the match.
Sai Praneeth, who had spoilt legendary shuttler Taufik Hidayat's farewell at the Indonesia Super Series and also stunned then world number four Yun Hu of Hong Kong in the Singapore Super Series, said the two-breaks in the new format can make the competition more open in the IBL.
"It will be a level playing field in this format. We can expect to beat higher players. But strategising will be different and difficult. It will take a few games to understand that. In the 21-point decider, even if you are down you can make a comeback but in 11-point third game, you have to keep attacking. You don't have time to think much," said the world number 37 Indian.
H S Prannoy, another men's singles player, also felt the new format will act as an advantage for the Indian players and they can hope to beat top players such as Lee Chong Wei. "Players such as Tien Minh Nguyen used to play long matches. It is more rallies. These players don't have much strokes, it is more fitness," he said.
"Even with Lee Chong Wei we will have an advantage in this 11-point format. With Lee you can't play the whole match at his pace, but in this format, you can have a better chance by going full out in the 11-point third game," Prannoy said.
Krrish Delhi Smashers will take on Pune Pistons in the opening match of the IBL.