Hong Kong Open: Singapore star Loh Kean Yew questions divisive rule change, seals win
The 2021 badminton world champion says he is ‘looking forward to seeing what happens’ as he advances to quarter-final against Christo Popov
Former badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew said he understood why a new shot clock was being introduced, but cast doubt over how the initiative would work in practice.
On Wednesday, the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) Council said that, for certain world tour tournaments from 2026, it would allow players only 25 seconds between each rally.
Singapore’s Loh stormed into the Li-Ning Hong Kong Open quarter-finals with a 21-16, 21-18 victory over Rasmus Gemke on Thursday. The two players were typically ready to begin a new point within 20 seconds, but in some instances the wait was much longer.
At 10-8 down in the second set, No 4 seed Loh had a drink and asked for the court to be wiped, leading to a one-minute delay.
“I understand the rationale but I don’t think it can be fixed like this,” Loh said. “Sometimes you need more than 25 seconds; it’s not always the same.”
Victor Axelsen, the two-time reigning Olympic champion, voiced similar fears.