Neil Nicholls
Regular Member
But I don't think the umpire followed all the Laws correctly either.
I have watched the match on tape twice, and the incident in question several times.
As with many disputes of this nature, in this and other sports, it is far easier to point and blame after the event when you have TV replays and the like.
The course of events
Lee Wan Wah was the only player holding his hand up to delay serve
He only did it when receiving serve from Jens Erikson
in game 1 he delayed serve twice:
once by holding up the hand
once by just standing there being not ready
in game 2
with the score at 4-2 to the Malaysians
he delayed serve by holding up the hand. At this point, the umpire gave Lee Wan Wah a verbal warning, telling him to be ready.
The malaysians then took their lead to 12-5
In one service hand the Danes came back to 12-10
The malaysians took another point, 13-10
The Danes came back to 13-11
and then Jens Erikson had to serve to Lee Wan Wah
it is hard to see what happened at normal speed. The first time I saw it, I thought it should be a let. The slow-motion replay makes it clearer.
Lee Wan Wah was standing with raquet down and hand half-up (almost horizontal) without looking at Erikson
the next bits happened very quickly and only by using slow motion and pause could I see the order in which they happened.
1 He brought his racquet up and hand down.
2 Lee Wan Wah looked up
3 Erikson served (backswing and serve were when Lee was looking at Erikson)
4 Lee Wan Wah put his hand up again
The umpire did not call a let, and so awarded the Danes the point.
I think that was correct.
Lee Wan Wah had previously had a warning from the umpire to be ready
In this point he indicated readiness
After this, regarding Lee Wan Wah's call for the referee, if that is what he did.
I saw he held his right arm up, which is the indication the umpire should use to call the referee. I don't know if the same applies to players.
Anyway,
Lee Wan Wah appealed to the umpire against the decision to not give a let
Law 17.6.2 says
An umpire shall give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is delivered.
Lee Wan Wah was not satisfied with the umpires decision
Law 17.6.8 says
An umpire shall take to the Referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only.
The umpire showed a yellow card and said "Lee Wan Wah, warning for misconduct"
If Lee Wan Wah was asking for the referee, I see no reason for the yellow card.
I also do not think that the referee, if he had been called, would have changed the umpires decision.
I have watched the match on tape twice, and the incident in question several times.
As with many disputes of this nature, in this and other sports, it is far easier to point and blame after the event when you have TV replays and the like.
The course of events
Lee Wan Wah was the only player holding his hand up to delay serve
He only did it when receiving serve from Jens Erikson
in game 1 he delayed serve twice:
once by holding up the hand
once by just standing there being not ready
in game 2
with the score at 4-2 to the Malaysians
he delayed serve by holding up the hand. At this point, the umpire gave Lee Wan Wah a verbal warning, telling him to be ready.
The malaysians then took their lead to 12-5
In one service hand the Danes came back to 12-10
The malaysians took another point, 13-10
The Danes came back to 13-11
and then Jens Erikson had to serve to Lee Wan Wah
it is hard to see what happened at normal speed. The first time I saw it, I thought it should be a let. The slow-motion replay makes it clearer.
Lee Wan Wah was standing with raquet down and hand half-up (almost horizontal) without looking at Erikson
the next bits happened very quickly and only by using slow motion and pause could I see the order in which they happened.
1 He brought his racquet up and hand down.
2 Lee Wan Wah looked up
3 Erikson served (backswing and serve were when Lee was looking at Erikson)
4 Lee Wan Wah put his hand up again
The umpire did not call a let, and so awarded the Danes the point.
I think that was correct.
Lee Wan Wah had previously had a warning from the umpire to be ready
In this point he indicated readiness
After this, regarding Lee Wan Wah's call for the referee, if that is what he did.
I saw he held his right arm up, which is the indication the umpire should use to call the referee. I don't know if the same applies to players.
Anyway,
Lee Wan Wah appealed to the umpire against the decision to not give a let
Law 17.6.2 says
An umpire shall give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is delivered.
Lee Wan Wah was not satisfied with the umpires decision
Law 17.6.8 says
An umpire shall take to the Referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only.
The umpire showed a yellow card and said "Lee Wan Wah, warning for misconduct"
If Lee Wan Wah was asking for the referee, I see no reason for the yellow card.
I also do not think that the referee, if he had been called, would have changed the umpires decision.