HS Prannoy calls for hawk-eye technology in BWF Super 500 tournaments

The top ranked Indian lost to Chou Tien Chen in R16 at Japan Masters.

India’s highest ranked men’s singles shuttler HS Prannoy was left disappointed with few close calls awarded to his opponent from Chinese Taipei Chou Tien Chen in the pre-quarterfinals of Japan Masters 2023. The Indian on his social media handle expressed his displeasure for not having hawk-eye technology in each of the four courts for BWF Super 500 tournaments and above.

“Don’t you guys think we need hawk eye in every single court from Super 500 events?” Prannoy wrote on X (formerly Twitter) following his exit from the Japan Masters after a 21-19, 16-21, 19-21 defeat to Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in the second round.

The WR-8 Indian shuttler argued with the chair umpire in one of the close calls that went in Chen’s favour. Overall, there were few calls that could have changed the dimension of the encounter but with no referrals in place the line judge’s decision was deemed final.

Hawk-eye technology is used in BWF tournaments from the quarterfinals stage while the preceding two rounds don’t have the access to the technology. At 4-9, a smash from HS Prannoy was called out long by the line judge and the Indian raised the decision with the chair umpire. The decision couldn’t be reversed, and the Prannoy lost out on a much easier point.

Each player from the quarterfinals stage gets two referrals each for every game where they can make use of the technology against close line calls. After a comeback from injury, Prannoy started well by beating Lee Cheuk Yeu in the opening round but somehow fell short against Chou Tien Chen in the pre-quarters.

With this, the Asian Games bronze medallist has only tournament left this season – China Masters ahead of the BWF World Tour Finals. The qualification to the prestigious event now looks thin for the athlete after an early exit at Japan Masters.

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