Top 10 sports events of 2012
- By Wang Mengru
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 11, 2012
Badminton match fixing scandal
Eight women's badminton players were disqualified for trying to lose on purpose in order to secure a favorable draw at the London Olympic Games.
The eight disqualified players were world doubles champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China and South Korean pairs Jung Kyun-eun/Kim Ha-na and Ha Jung-eun/Kim Min-jung and Indonesia's Meiliana Jauhari and Greysia Polii.
The Badminton World Federation charged the four doubles pairs 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"
South Korea and Indonesia appealed to the disqualification, but the BWF rejected the South Korean appeal and the Indonesian challenge was withdrawn. China accepted the federation's decision.
Wang and Yu and their South Korean opponents Jung and Kim were booed and jeered by the spectators at the Wembley Arena, when they deliberately hit shots out of court and served into the net. The Chinese pair eventually lost 21-14, 21-11 and avoided an early clash with their compatriots.
South Korea's Ha/Kim and Indonesia's Jauhari/Polii then took to the court and followed suit in an attempt to avoid meeting Wang and Yu in the quarter finals. Chinese badminton head coach Li Yongbo apologized for the scandal.
