Guwahati, India – The Badminton World Federation (BWF), in a collaborative effort with the Badminton Association of India (BAI), has announced a series of exciting innovations set to debut at the Yonex Sunrise BWF World Junior Championships 2025 this October in Guwahati. These forward-thinking initiatives aim to modernize the sport, enhance athlete well-being, and heighten audience engagement.
Headlining the changes is an updated relay system for the mixed team tournament. This revised format will feature a best-of-three-sets structure, with each set played to 45 points. Each set will comprise five matches: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. This new relay system builds on positive feedback from a version trialed at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2024 in China, indicating a strategic evolution to create more dynamic and unpredictable team encounters.
In the individual tournament, the BWF will implement a trial of the 3×15 scoring system. This initiative is part of a broader testing and analysis program by the BWF to evaluate the impact of this scoring format on match duration, player strategy, and overall competitive intensity. The BWF Council’s approval of both these initiatives at the recent BWF AGM in Xiamen, China, underscores their commitment to innovation.
BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund lauded the BAI and the Guwahati organizing committee for their proactive approach in embracing these trials. “We are delighted to present a forward-thinking championships promoting innovation for badminton and reflecting a progressive and modern approach by BAI, Guwahati and BWF,” Lund stated. He emphasized that these measures are part of the BWF’s long-term vision to modernize events and delivery, aiming to protect athlete well-being while making badminton more exciting for a global audience.
The BWF stressed the importance of an inclusive and well-informed process, with future decisions guided by evidence and extensive consultation. To ensure all stakeholders are prepared, virtual workshops for team managers and coaches will be conducted before the championships. The BWF will also meticulously collect stakeholder surveys and analyze match data to support any future decisions regarding these innovations.
The Yonex Sunrise BWF World Junior Championships 2025 is poised to be a landmark event, not only showcasing the world’s most promising young badminton talents but also serving as a live testing ground for potential future directions of the sport.
