A Malaysian AI-powered instant review system (IRS) for disputed badminton line calls has made its international debut at the Singapore International Challenge 2026, following prior use at domestic tournaments.
Known as “Reveal Lens“, the system was developed by Revealtek and approved by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), and was used to review contested line calls during the tournament held from 18 to 23 August. The Singapore deployment marks the technology’s first use outside Malaysia, as Revealtek looks to expand its reach beyond the domestic market following earlier rollouts at local tournaments.
Revealtek CEO: Reveal Lens “Very Similar” To VAR
Revealtek co-founder and chief executive officer Nizam Mohamed said the system is comparable to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) used in football and tennis, though it differs by producing a decision based on calculations rather than simply displaying a video replay. He added that Reveal Lens uses a wireless setup that can be installed within two hours (mostly involving just a pair of smartphones), in contrast to more extensive systems that require substantial infrastructure and lengthy calibration.
The company is exploring opportunities to bring the technology to other badminton markets, with organizers and associations in Vietnam and Indonesia having expressed interest following its local deployments. The company is also in discussions with continental confederations, aiming to have the technology adopted as a standard practice for member associations.
Beyond instant reviews, Revealtek is developing an analytics module and a fully functioning line-calling system intended to perform the work typically carried out by line judges during matches. A demonstration of this system is planned for an upcoming tournament in Australia in October, Nizam added.
Pokdepinion: I can see the cost benefits here, but ultimate what makes VAR and similar tech expensive is the demands for reliability. Can AI be proven reliable 100% of the time? It remains to be seen.
