For the first time, the use of synthetic analogs has been allowed in professional badminton tournaments due to the doubling of the price of natural shuttlecocks.
Idman.Biz reports that this information was published by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Thus, for the first time in the history of professional badminton, the use of synthetic shuttlecocks has been given the green light in international competitions.
Currently, this decision applies only to competitions among teenagers and lower-level adult tournaments. However, in the future, it is expected that the elite equipment currently used in this sport - shuttlecocks made from duck and goose feathers - will be gradually phased out.
The main reason for this is a sharp increase in the price of natural shuttlecocks - in the last two years, their rate of appreciation has outpaced inflation, even the price increase of gold. A shortage of feathers has arisen as a result of bird flu and changes in market conditions, which is prompting badminton to make radical changes. Although leading players remain dissatisfied with this decision, they accept that the transition to artificial shuttlecocks is inevitable.