Why badminton, without stats obsession as yet, is more interesting than cricket
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On the positive side, it is a relief that the tyranny of data and numbers doesn’t blight the watching of badminton. Yet.For, all sports smothered by statistics eventually degenerate into dumb debates of who’s a better player, fan wars, jingoistic jousts and retro-fitted bending figures to suit assorted fanaticisms. Not many can let go of their pet theories and cleanse the palate for the next faceoff, keeping sport fresh and full of surprises, if tethered to stats from the past.
Thank god for Tai Tzu Ying who can come back from any match situation. And for Kidambi Srikanth whose (undoubtedly) terrible numbers just cannot strangle the possibility of an unlikely win. Or for Satwik-Chirag who can keep straight faces when 14-20 down and bin all statistical probabilities for a rollicki...