BWF's 25-Second Serve Clock Divides Badminton Players: Too Fast or Long Overdue?

• The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is testing a 25-second serve clock to curb tactical delays and standardize match flow, with trials continuing at the Indonesia Masters.
• The clock starts after the umpire updates the score, requiring players to be ready within 25 seconds or face sanctions; umpires can extend breaks for medical or court issues.
• World number two Wang Zi Yi supports the initiative, believing players will adapt and it will address delays, while Mathias Christiansen is skeptical, suggesting good officiating already handles most issues.
• Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei expressed concerns about insufficient recovery time after long rallies, though she is willing to try the new system.
• BWF data shows average time between points is 22 seconds, leading them to believe 25 seconds balances recovery and match rhythm; coaches like B Sumeeth Reddy and Arvind Bhat offer mixed opinions.

Why It Matters: BWF's new 25-second serve clock is being tested, sparking debate among players and coaches over its fairness and effectiveness.