KUCHING: National mixed doubles shuttler, Shevon Jemie Lai, has called for greater consistency in the application of badminton’s regulations following Malaysia’s dramatic quarter-final exit at the Indonesia Open.
Goh Soon Huat and Shevon saw their campaign end in heartbreaking fashion after falling 21-15, 18-21, 20-22 to France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue at Istora Senayan on Friday (June 5).
The match was overshadowed by two disciplinary sanctions issued to Soon Huat, including a red card at a crucial stage of the deciding game.
In a statement shared on social media, Shevon said the first sanction came after Soon Huat briefly left the court to look for grip powder as his racket grip had become slippery.
She claimed the packed atmosphere inside Istora Senayan may have contributed to the misunderstanding, saying Soon Huat did not hear the umpire’s instruction to return to court before eventually being shown a yellow card.
The second incident occurred with the score tied at 20-20 in the deciding game.
According to Shevon, Soon Huat briefly turned to communicate with her before returning to position, only to be shown a red card despite being ready for the next rally.
Under Badminton World Federation (BWF) regulations, a yellow card serves as an official warning, while a red card awards a point to the opposing side and carries an automatic US$500 administrative fine.
The decision proved costly as the point handed the French pair a 21-20 advantage before they went on to seal victory and a place in the semi-finals.
While stressing that they respect the officials and the sport, Shevon questioned the consistency of the rulings and the manner in which the regulations were enforced.
“We are not opposing the rules that BWF is trying to implement,” she said.
“However, if a rule is still being trialled, strict punitive actions should not be enforced in a way that effectively imposes the rule before it has been fully established.”
She also raised concerns over the absence of a mechanism for players to challenge contentious decisions on court, saying such moments can have a significant impact on both the outcome of a match and the athletes involved.
Despite the disappointment, Shevon reiterated her respect for badminton’s officials while calling for fairness, consistency and accountability in the enforcement of regulations.
The defeat denied the world No. 12 pair a place in the semi-finals, ending Malaysia’s mixed doubles challenge in Jakarta just two points from victory.
