Players hit out at new ruling at German Open as BWF service law causes consternation

Two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan slammed the experimental service rule saying it does not come from the players and the coaches but “a few people in a room”.

“I have played major and small tournaments for more than 10 years and trained more than three decades and now the world body comes to teach us how to serve,” said Lin on Weibo. “To be honest, this is really absurd.”

The new rule states the whole of the shuttlecock must be held at a fixed height of 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the instant of being hit by the server’s racket.

Before, players were not allowed to serve above their waist. World number one Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, who missed the tournament due to a surgery, is another top player that has spoken out against the new rule as the 1.94-metre towering player would be too disadvantaged to serve from that height.

Lin said many players at the German Open, including himself, were disadvantaged under the new rule and the focus of the match was no longer the players but match officials who could now decide the match. And the Beijing and London Olympic Games men’s singles champion went on to criticise the world governing body as the new rule has little scientific aids.