National men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik benefitted from a controversial call from the umpire in their win over Taiwan's Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po-han in the Arctic Open quarter-final.
Aaron-Wooi Yik were leading 20-19 when the Taiwanese pair seem to have equalled the scores after Po-han's smash.
Swiss umpire Peter Meszaros though called a fault against Kuang-heng-Po-han for excessive shouting during the rally and celebrating which he deemed had put off Aaron-Wooi Yik and awarded the point to the world No. 2 duo.
Aaron-Wooi Yik dropped the second game but eventually won 21-19, 19-21, 21-17 in Finland on Friday.
This is not the first time that Meszaros has courted controversy with his judgement.
In the Malaysian Masters in May, men's doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi accused Meszaros of favouring youngsters Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing's opponents Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard in the second round.
Three decisions made by Meszaros during the match were believed to have significantly impacted the outcome and fairness of play.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) had submitted a formal complaint to the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who beat Kjaer-Sogaard in the last eight, voiced out against the officiating, saying that it was not the first time that such controversial calls have been made.
This time, Herry admitted that Meszaros' decision benefitted his pair.
"The decision from the umpire benefitted Aaron-Wooi Yik. The Taiwanese pair were given a warning earlier in the game for excessively shouting and celebrating," said Herry.
"They again did it before the rally was over during 20-19, so the umpire made the decision to call a fault and give our pair the point."
Aaron-Wooi Yik will face Thailand's world No. 13 Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Kittinupong Kedren next for a place in the final.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian pair Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian also made it into the last four after stunning Denmark's world No. 4 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 23-21, 21-15.
The world No. 47 duo will next take on England's world No. 15 Ben Lane-Sean Vendy.
