BWF plans to introduce new formats for 2014 Thomas & Uber Cups – Badminton News
Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced to reform current structure of Thomas and Uber Cups to make 2014 edition of these prestigious team events more attractive for world audience.
Next edition of these premiere team events of the world will comprise 16 rather than of 12 countries and world rankings will be used to determine these contestants.
BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund confirmed the news and briefed that world body is aiming larger viewership across the globe and that is why they are introducing these changes which will elevate competition’s standards while ensuring involvement of maximum
countries.
He said, “We believe that the sport is now ready to be taken to a new level of global exposure where we want to take the highest quality competition of the sport to the biggest possible world-wide television audience.”
According to suggested format, European and Asian regions will have three representatives each and these six teams will have to surpass others in world rankings.
Meanwhile the top ranked teams from African, Pan Am, Oceania will also earn the honour to be in the world’s oldest team championships.
These 16 teams will also include defending champions and host country and if host country is also title holder then this extra seat will be given to next higher ranked country in world rankings. All these contestants will be divided into four groups with
every group having four teams each.
BWF Deputy President Paisan Rangsikitpho, who is also Events Committee Chairperson, declared that this new plan of action will force member countries to undergo development strategies which will raise standards of game.
He said, “Team events are fundamentally a reflection of the depth in development of the sport in each country. World Ranking determination process sets our Member Associations in motion to adopt a long-term development strategy.”
Moreover, he also stated that more participants in Thomas and Uber Cups mean more credibility to this event and ultimately this will enhance badminton’s popularity all over the world.
Earlier, BWF also decided to cancel qualifying format and announced that there will be no qualifying tournament for future editions of these team events.
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