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RULES: BADMINTON FEDERATION ELIMINATES 5-POINT SETTING

May 17, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - According to a senior official of the International Badminton Federation, a rule change affecting setting, badminton's version of the tennis tiebreak, will take effect starting August 1, 1998.

Currently, setting occurs at either 13-all or 14-all in men's singles and in the three doubles events and at 9-all or 10-all in women's singles. At 13-all, the setting is for 5 points, while at 14-all, setting is for three points (In women's singles, setting at 9-all is for three points and setting at 10-all is for 2 points.

Starting August 1, setting will only be at 14-all for three points (at 10-all for two points in women's singles). As before, setting will be at the option of the player or pair who has reached 14 (or 10 in women's singles) first.

Also starting August 1, a coaching break will be allowed between the first and second games. This coaching break will be limited to 90 seconds. Because of the short period of time allowed for this break, one coach per player or pair will be allowed to sit on the sidelines.

The five-minute break between the second and third games remains in place.

(mcoe/dsimmons)