Standard of umpiring in India Open inconsistent: Gopichand

Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand Sunday questioned the standard of umpiring during the India Open badminton tournament, calling it inconsistent.

On Saturday, Indian men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy were called twice for service fault by the umpire during their semifinal match against the Indonesian duo of Ricky Karandasuwardi and Angga Pratama, which they lost 12-21 17-21.

According to the new BWF rule which was implemented last year, 'the whole of the shuttle shall be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the instant of being hit by the server's racket'.

Gopichand said: "I think Sumeeth was a little unlucky yesterday. I think when umpires don't call you in the entire week and they call you on a particular day, I think there's something wrong with the standard of umpiring in terms of consistency."
"I think Sindhu could have won. We had our chances in women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles yesterday and they could have pulled through. I think Kashyap also has had a good run. He has had a good tournament. Considering what has happened in the last year with him, it has been a good comeback."