Source: Sipa USA/Hindustan Times
[Saba Sports News] On December 11, the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals kicked off at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center. In the first round of Group A in men’s singles, Danish star Anders Antonsen defeated Chinese player Li Shifeng 2-0. However, the match was filled with controversy. In the second game, when Li was trailing 12-16, he managed to catch up to 17-18. During a critical point that followed, Antonsen’s return went into the net. This would have been a point for Li, and the score system immediately displayed an 18-18 tie. However, Antonsen approached the service umpire, complaining that the umpire suddenly coughed just as he was hitting the shuttle, affecting his focus in that rally. After some commotion, the service umpire discussed the situation with the main referee, who decided to replay the point. The audience responded with boos. After the replay, Antonsen won the point, extending his lead to 19-17, and ultimately won the match 21-19. After the match, Li expressed his helplessness regarding the controversial point, stating that while Antonsen’s mentality was not great, smart players often use advantageous methods to win. BWF commentator Ben Beckman also commented post-match on the “cough gate,” pointing out that noise from the crowd, sudden music, and even strange noises from opponents should not affect the referees.