'Feeling Cheated' - Parupalli Kashyap Slams Umpiring After Saina Nehwal's Exit From Badminton World Championships

Saina Nehwal slammed the standard of umpiring in her Badminton World Championships pre-quarterfinal loss to Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, terming it "very sick".

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 23 August 2019 6:04 pm

Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap lashed out at the umpiring after the former's defeat in the pre-quarterfinals stage at the Badminton World Championships in Basel on Thursday (August 22).

Saina, who had won a silver at the 2015 World Championships and bronze in 2017, lost 21-15, 25-27, 12-21 to World No.12 Mia Blichfeldt in a marathon women’s singles match that lasted an hour and 12 minutes. In the second game, that saw 52 points being played, Nehwal had two match points while also saving five game points. (BADMINTON NEWS)

There was no video referral in place for Saina's match as it wasn't held in one of the two courts with live streaming facility.

Kashyap, who often side by the courtside during Saina's matches, rued the lack of hawk eye.

2 match-points snatched away by bad umpiring . And numerous wrong decisions . Unbelievable that there are no reviews on other courts at the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. When will our sport get better ? SICK @bwfmedia @HSBCBWF @NSaina #feelingcheated #totalbwfworldchampionships2019
— Parupalli Kashyap (@parupallik) August 23, 2019

Replying to Kashyap's comment, Saina also expressed her disappointment over the umpiring decisions.

still can’t believe 2 match points which the umpire overruled in the second game . And the umpire tells me in the mid of second game “let the line umpires do their job” and I dnt understand suddenly how the umpire overruled the match points..very sick @bwfmedia @HSBCBWF https://t.co/1p4PP4yXzc
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) August 23, 2019

Saina’s compatriot and two-time silver medallist PV Sindhu, however, sailed into the semis with a 12-21, 23-21, 21-19 win over Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.

(With Agency Inputs)