Not fast enough: Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen fails to return a shot to China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi during the men’s singles quarter-final match. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Taiwan’s men’s singles shuttler Chou Tien-chen bowed out of the Malaysian Open with anger and a hope for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to be introduced in badminton.
Tien-chen went down fighting 16-21, 21-19, 17-21 to China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday but not before encountering a controversial call on the final point of the quarter-finals match.
With Yuqi leading 20-17 in the deciding game, he executed a tap smash, which the line judge called out. Yuqi wanted to challenge the decision, but the umpire ruled that the shuttle had touched Tien-chen before going out, declaring it a fault.
As a result, the challenge was denied, and Yuqi was awarded the match-winning point.
Tien-chen was frustrated with the call and repeatedly insisted that he had not touched the shuttle.
“I don’t know. I’ve said it many times... VAR must be applied in badminton,” said Tien-chen.
“I’ve said it so many times, the umpires keep making mistakes.
“I don’t know what else to say. That’s it.”
Yuqi, however, believes the call did not affect the outcome of the match.
“After I hit the shuttle, the line judge called it out, so I was about to challenge the decision,” said Yuqi.
“However, the umpire denied my request and I initially thought it was because I had taken too long to make the request.
“He (the umpire) then explained that Tien-chen had touched the shuttle, which made the challenge unnecessary, and I was awarded the point directly.
“Honestly, if I had been allowed to challenge, I still believe the shuttle was in.”
Yuqi will face his teammate and world No. 7 Li Shifeng, who fought hard to defeat Taiwan’s world No. 32 Chi Yu-jen 14-21, 21-13, 21-7 in another quarter-finals match, in the last four today.
Despite being higher-ranked, Yuqi is approaching the match with caution as their head-to-head record stands at a 2-2 tie.
“He is a strong player, and I’ve lost to him a few times in international tournaments,” said Yuqi.
“So, I will be well-prepared and give my best effort to play better and win as many points as I can.”
