Thaindian News

London, Aug 1 (IANS) Eight women badminton players were disqualified from the London Olympics’ doubles event for throwing matches to get a favourable opponent.

The pairs are: Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China; Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari of Indonesia; Jung Kyung Eun and Kim Ha Na of South Korea; and Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung, also of South Korea.

A source with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) decision, Xinhua reports.

The South Korean badminton team told Xinhua that they had received the BWF’s official notice on the disqualification of its players and they would appeal.

The Chinese World Champion duo of Wang and Yu and their South Korean rivals Jung and Kim were jeered and booed by the crowd Tuesday after hitting serves into the net and striking easy shots long or wide.

The umpire and the referee warned all the four players, but the situation didn’t change. The Chinese women eventually lost 14-21, 11-21 and as a result they won’t meet their compatriots until the final.

The farce was repeated in the next game between South Korea’s Ha and Kim and Indonesia’s Jauhari and Polii. Both teams were also warned for deliberately trying to lose.

London Olympic chief organiser Sebastian Coe described the incidents “depressing”, saying “who wants to sit through something like that”.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said Wednesday morning that the incidents were “not acceptable”.

The Indians have also lodged a formal complaint but the disqualified players were not in the same group along with the Indian duo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa.