Feathers are flying in the normally sedate world of badminton with a wrangle over scoring and a hint of sex discrimination.

Trouble has been brewing ever since the International Badminton Federation decided last year to make women's and mixed doubles 3x11 (best of three games, first to 11) instead of the traditional 3x15.

The move to shorter games has aroused strong opposition from countries who feel it undervalues women.

Critics also argue that the decision to plump for 3x11 was reached unconstitutionally and the IBF has been forced to call an extraordinary general meeting on March 22 to thrash out the whole issue.

In a defiant gesture, England used 3x15 at last weekend's national championships at Burgess Hill, near Brighton.

IBF administration committee chairman Torsten Berg had observed tartly of England's move: "If they go on and play mixed doubles and women's doubles to 15 it is not badminton.

"I suppose it could be called old-fashioned badminton under ancient laws."

But watching Sunday's finals, English Badminton Association chief executive Stephen Baddeley said even old-fashioned badminton had prided itself on men and women playing together and that was something worth fighting for.

He told Reuters: "There are sports which have always treated women differently but they have a lot of problems because of that. For our sport to open up this can of worms is just ridiculous."

BADDELEY OPTIMISTIC

While he was baffled at the thinking behind the new system, Baddeley was optimistic that would be its downfall.

 "We have rather shot ourselves in the foot and no one yet has come up with a discernable reason for doing so."

In England's 2,000 badminton clubs, 40,000 people enjoyed hitting a shuttlecock around a court, mostly in mixed doubles matches, said Baddeley.

"It has always been a fundamental part of the game. It has its own tactics and its own specialist players."

But women would be short-changed if clubs followed the IBF's scoring system.

"When you go to a club night and you pay the same money you expect to play to the same number of points," said the former England, European and Commonwealth champion.

While the English association pledge to fight their corner against the new system, England's top players are unhappy about switching between scoring methods.

After a year-long experiment with a 5x7 system and then the controversial change to 3x11 last May, they want their sport to pick a scheme and stick to it.

Next week, they will have to adjust their game yet again to 3x11 for the All England tournament, a top-class international event known as the sport's Wimbledon.

Olympic mixed doubles bronze medallist Simon Archer, 29, said: "I don't see why we should change scoring systems in domestic games just for the club base. The club base doesn't have to play international games."

OLYMPIC STATUS

Other players felt disappointed their game could not adopt a unified stance.

"It doesn't happen in other sports that you get different scoring systems. It just doesn't look good," said mixed doubles finalist Natalie Munt, 25.

Fresh from defending his title, mixed doubles national champion Nathan Robertson, 25, said: "As long as they just make a decision and stick to it, it's fine."

Baddeley said although he could see no physiological basis for the IBF's decision, there was one possible explanation.

He said: "There has always been a movement within badminton, particularly in south-east Asia, to do away with mixed doubles...we can see the new scoring system as the thin end of the wedge."

Baddeley also fears 3x11 may damage badminton's 10-year status as an Olympic sport.

He said: "The International Olympic Committee are pushing the place and participation of women very strongly. The last thing we want is to send a message that indicates our sport isn't fully signed up to that."

England have secured the support of 31 countries to force the IBF extraordinary general meeting which will be held during the world team championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

For all events, including women's and mixed doubles, the England camp will press for 5x9 which they see as equitable and more television-friendly.

Baddeley doubts 5x9 will go through but hopes at least that the 3x15 system for women's and mixed doubles will be reinstated.

"It's a cultural clash but we need to fight our corner," he said.