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Since the last two tournaments in Malaysia and Singapore were cancelled due to the Corona pandemic, the presumed participants are now basically fixed.
However, their participation still has to be confirmed by the respective national sports federation and the National Olympic Committees (NOC). Multiple Swiss champion Sabrina Jaquet is ranked 26th on the "Road to Tokyo" qualification list and would thus be the only Swiss badminton player at the Olympic badminton tournament, as she was in 2012 and 2016.

BWF Olympic Ranking

Durch die Absage der letzten beiden Turnier in Malaysia und in Singapore wurden einige Top-Stars um ihre Qualifikationschancen gebracht. Zum Beispiel Saina Nehwal aus Indien. Sie belegt Rang 22 auf der Rangliste «Road to Tokyo». Da pro Nation aber nur zwei SpielerInnen/Paare an den Start gehen dürfen, wenn beide unter den Top 16 im Einzel bzw. Top 8 im Doppel sind, darf die ehemalige Weltranglistenerste nicht nach Tokyo, da ihre Landsfrau Sindhu Pursala Rang sieben belegt.

Japan's Sayaka Takahashi has been hit very hard. She is 11th on the ranking list - but unfortunately, with Nozomi Okuhara (3rd) and Akane Yamaguchi (5th), two other Japanese players are ahead of her on the ranking list and qualified for Tokyo. In this case, the Japanese Badminton Federation has the final say and can decide which player to propose to the NOC for nomination.

Big surprise at the delegates' meeting of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) this Saturday. In the run-up, most badminton fans had expected that the 3 x 21 counting system in force since 1.8.2006 would be replaced by the 5 x 11 system (three winning sets to 11 points). But the delegates vote against it. 188 votes would have been necessary for a change - but there were only 187 votes. A shock for all supporters including the old and new President Poul-Erik Hoyer. He was a big supporter of the 5 x 11 system, and it failed for the second time after 2018. This means that in future the system will continue to be 3 x 21 points.

The time seems ripe for a renewal.

Vor drei Jahren wurde bei der Jahreshauptversammlung des Weltverbandes BWF der Vorschlag, die Zählweise 5 x 11 (drei Gewinnsätze bis 11 Punkte in allen Disziplinen) einzuführen, von der Mehrheit der versammelten Delegierten abgelehnt. Nur 129 Stimmen waren dafür – nötig gewesen wären aber 168 Stimmen.

But this year there could be a change. The Indonesian federation PBSI will officially make the proposal to change to 5 x 11. The federation is confident of the support of the continental federation Badminton Asia certainly after the Chinese federation had also gained good experience at the national championships in November 2020. However, 7 x 11 was played there (four winning sets to 11 points).

So it may well be that the 3 x 21 counting method in operation since 1 August 2006 will soon be a thing of the past. The decision will be made on 22 May at the BWF Assembly of Delegates, which, like last year, will only be held virtually. 

Final day in Kiev at the European Badminton Championships. Out of five finals, only three will take place. The reason: two players tested positive for the Corona virus after their semi-final matches. As the second test on Sunday morning was also positive, Viktor Axelsen (DEN, finalist in singles) as well as Mark Lamsfuss (GER, finalist in doubles) had to stay in the hotel room instead of playing their finals. And probably for another 13 days, unless another solution for the athletes is found on a diplomatic level.

Similar to the Indonesian players at the All England Championships in March, who were flown back to Jakarta after a few days in quarantine. Their bad luck had been that another passenger on their flight to Birmingham had tested positive.

Back to the European Championships. So the title in the men's singles went without a fight to Anders Antonsen from Denmark and in the doubles to the two Russians Vladimir Ivanov/ Ivan Sozonov.
In the women's singles, Spain's Carolina Marin won for the fifth time in a row (2-set victory over 21-year-old Dane Line Christophersen). In the women's doubles, Bulgarian number one seeds Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva won in two sets against Chloe Birch/Lauren Smith (ENG) with 21:14 and 21:19. There was a surprise in the mixed. The 6th seeded Russians Rodion Alimov/Alina Davletova won the title after defeating Marcus Ellis/Lauren Smith (ENG) 2:1.

Link to the results

After 2017, Swiss players once again have a chance to win a medal at a European Badminton Championship. Aline Müller/ Jenjira Stadelmann narrowly beat French pair Emilie Lefel/ Anne Tran in three sets 21-16/ 7-21/ 21-19 yesterday evening to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. With the victory of the two Swiss players (BWF 151) against the favoured French players (BWF 24), the reigning Swiss champions achieved a small sensation. Tonight, Friday, they will play for a medal. They will play the 5th match after 5 pm against the number three seeded Danes Sara Thygesen/ Maiken Fruergaard (BWF 16).

Due to the Corona pandemic, the Swiss Junior Championship has been postponed from December 2020 to this weekend. More than 200 kids and juniors in the age groups U13 to U19 will play for championship titles and cups. The best junior players will be at the start - but unfortunately there will be no spectators in the hall this weekend. The hygiene and safety concept of the tournament organizer in Arlesheim does not allow this. Lucie Amiguet (photo) is one of the favorites in the U17 age group and is the number one seed there in all disciplines.

Link

The time seems ripe for a renewal.

Three years ago, at the annual general meeting of the world federation BWF, the proposal to introduce the counting method 5 x 11 (three winning sets to 11 points in all disciplines) was rejected by the majority of the assembled delegates. Only 129 votes were in favour - 168 votes would have been necessary.

But this year there could be a change. The Indonesian federation PBSI will officially make the proposal to change to 5 x 11. The federation is confident of the support of the continental federation Badminton Asia certainly after the Chinese federation had also gained good experience at the national championships in November 2020. However, 7 x 11 was played there (four winning sets to 11 points).

So it may well be that the 3 x 21 counting method in operation since 1 August 2006 will soon be a thing of the past. The decision will be made on 22 May at the BWF Assembly of Delegates, which, like last year, will only be held virtually.  

The Swiss National League A will be played again this weekend. There, 5 x 11 is already a reality. No spectators are allowed at the matches - but for some games there is live streaming on youtube.com. Check it out!

Friday, 09 April 2021

19:00  Badminton Lausanne Association – BC La Chaux-de-Fonds (Live-Stream)

Saturday, 10 April 2021
14:00  Badminton Lausanne Association – BC Yverdon-les-Bains (Live-Stream)
15:00  Union Tafers-Fribourg – Team Argovia
15:00  BC La Chaux-de-Fonds – BC Uzwil
15:30  BV St.Gallen-Appenzell – BC Zürich

Sunday, 11 April 2021
12:00  BC Uzwil – Union Tafers-Fribourg (Live-Stream)
12:00  BC Yverdon-les-Bains – BV St.Gallen-Appenzell
14:00  Team Argovia – BC La Chaux-de-Fonds (Live-Stream)
14:00  BC Zürich – Badminton Lausanne Association