The World Badminton Federation charged eight players with misconduct today after each team in two women’s Olympic doubles encounters tried to “throw” the matches to secure a more favourable draw later on.
“The pairs have been charged … with ‘not using one’s best efforts to win a match’ and ‘conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport’,” the federation said in a statement.
Spectators at the Wembley Arena shouted abuse and jeered at players from China, South Korea and Indonesia when they deliberately sprayed shots and duffed serves into the net to concede points in attempts to lose on purpose.
The Chinese Olympic team is now investigating the incidents, state news agency Xinhua quoted a spokesperson as saying. South Korea head coach Sung Han-kook said two of his pairings had attempted to throw their matches against China’s world champion duo and an Indonesian team but added it was in retaliation against the Chinese team who instigated the farce.
He said they had deliberately tried to throw the first of the tainted matches to ensure their leading duo of Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli would be sure not to meet China’s number two pair until the gold medal decider.
Players and coaches of other teams expressed disdain and laid the blame on the Chinese camp.
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