KUALA LUMPUR — National men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has criticised what he described as three controversial umpiring decisions that contributed to teenage pair Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai’s second-round exit at the Malaysia Masters yesterday.
Making their debut at the tournament, world junior champions Aaron and Khai Xing pushed Denmark’s seventh seeds Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard to a deciding game before falling 10-21, 26-24, 16-21 in 67 minutes at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Herry believes three disputed calls proved costly.
“Yes, three times,” he said. “One time, the shuttle was clearly out but was judged to be in. Another time it was in but ruled out. That’s twice.
“Then, in the third game, the umpire ruled that Aaron had touched the shuttle, but there was no contact.
“We’ve reviewed the footage and Aaron managed to avoid it. Had that been called out, the score would have closed to 13-14. Instead, it went to 15-12 to the Danes.”
The Malaysian pair, currently ranked world number 58, were unable to challenge the decisions as the review system was only available on Court 1. Their match had taken place on Court 2.
Herry said the incidents had placed emotional strain on the young duo — Khai Xing is 19, Aaron just 18 — but expressed hope they would recover from the setback.
He has also urged the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to file an official protest with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) over the umpiring.
In today’s quarter-finals, Kjaer and Sogaard will face Malaysia’s top pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who eased past Taiwan’s Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han 21-13, 21-16. — May 23, 2025