BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The innovative team relay badminton event currently being trialed at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games has won praise from shuttlers after four days of competition.
The relay event, which features eight teams of comparable strength based on world rankings, has encouraged players to strive for a common goal alongside young stars from other nations.
"This format is new for me," New Zealand player Oscar Guo said. "No one was that sure how it would go until we started playing, but it works really well. I get to meet new people and get the team spirit which is quite important at the Olympic Games."
Each team consists of eight players from different countries and regions, with each tie decided by a cumulative total of points scored over 10 matches - two each for men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.
"The way you play affects your teammates because of your combined score," said Grace King of Great Britain. "There is pressure on you to try to do well for your teammates and yourself."
Wednesday's quarterfinal between team Sigma and team Zeta demonstrated just how unpredictable the relay event can be, with the score fluctuating back and forth before Zeta eventually prevailed in the final two matches to claim a hard-fought 110-106 victory.
"The scoring is interesting. It has never happened before. It's really good, getting to know all the players," said Christopher Grimley of Great Britain, playing for Zeta, after taking the final two points in mixed doubles and men's doubles.
The Youth Games is as much about learning as it is competition. Sigma's Wang Zhiyi of China said she was becoming familiar with her teammates. "My English is not so good, but we can still have a lot of fun together."
Arnaud-Sylvain-Andre Merkle of France shared the same opinion. "It's quite good for us. We eat together. If there was no team event, I wouldn't even talk to the players from other countries."
On singles quarterfinal day at the YOG, world junior champion and men's top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand was knocked out by Merkle 21-13, 21-10. The Frenchman set up a semifinal clash with China's fifth seed Li Shifeng, who came from behind to beat Nhat Nguyen of Ireland 15-21, 21-19, 21-19.
The other men's singles semifinal features India's Lakshya Sen and Kodai Naraoka of Japan.
In the women's singles, Thailand's top seed Phittayaporn Chaiwan avoided the fate of her male compatriot, defeating Hungary's Vivien Sandorhazi 21-9, 21-8. Her next opponent will be Malaysia's Goh Jin Wei, who was just as comfortable winning her quarterfinal against Vietnam's Vu Thi Anh Thu 21-12, 21-9.
Second seed Wang Zhiyi made her way past Chinese Taipei's Huang Yinhsuan and now faces Singapore's Jaslyn Hooi, who beat Jennie Gai of the United States 21-16, 21-18.
