[extessarere]

LONDON (AP) — Eight female badminton doubles players were disqualified from the London Olympics after trying to lose matches to receive a more favorable place in the tournament, Indonesia's team leader said Wednesday.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blog...n-matches.html

[Discus]

That's fantastic.

[NikolaAAA]

I am so glad they imported Philly fans for these matches
...and I guess this is also the British's fault?

Wang and Yu and their opponents were booed loudly by the crowd after dumping serves into the net and making simple errors, such as hitting the shuttlecock wide.
The longest rally in their first game was only four strokes. The umpire warned them, and tournament referee Torsten Berg spoke to all four players but it had little effect. At one stage, Berg showed a black card, which usually means disqualification, but the game continued.
Eventually, the Chinese women lost 21-14, 21-11 and both pairs were jeered off the court.
The teams had already qualified for knockout round, but the result ensured that the top-seeded Wang and Yu would have avoided playing their No. 2-seeded Chinese teammates until the final.
The problem was repeated in the next women's doubles between South Korea's Ha and Kim Min-jung and their Indonesian opponents. Both teams were also warned for deliberately losing points in a match the South Koreans won 18-21, 21-14, 21-12.
China's Lin Dan, the No. 2-ranked men's singles player, said through an interpreter the sport is going to be damaged.
"Especially for the audience," he said before the disqualifications were announced. "This is definitely not within the Olympic spirit. But like I said before, it's not one-sided. Whoever sets the rule should make it knockout so whoever doesn't try will just leave the Olympics."
Beijing badminton silver medalist Gail Emms said the matches were embarrassing to watch.
"It was absolutely shocking," she said. "The crowds were booing and chanting 'Off, off, off.'

[Serereids]

It's just badminton.......

[weluvjessicaalba]

It is pretty obvious you are throwing the match once you hit a shuttlecock wide.

[crestorinfo]

The teams had already qualified for knockout round, but the result ensured that the top-seeded Wang and Yu would have avoided playing their No. 2-seeded Chinese teammates until the final. Why would the top seeded team have to play the #2 team before the finals?

[buyviagraonlineusatoday]

Why would the top seeded team have to play the #2 team before the finals?

For the same reason the number 4 gymnast in the world can't compete in the individual round of the Olympics. They have screwed up rules.

[Kinds Of Pain Meds]

"Lose the battle, win the war."

As someone who wanted the Phillies to lay down to the Braves on the final game last season, I see nothing with what they did.

When losing helps you win, you should lose.

[pkopwqzsdcvbn]

"Lose the battle, win the war."

As someone who wanted the Phillies to lay down to the Braves on the final game last season, I see nothing with what they did.

When losing helps you win, you should lose.

It is one thing w/a Pro Sport. In this case it is totally against the "Olympic Oath" that all athletes take at least symbolically, and all the Olympics are supposed to stand for.

[Qahtwugc]

It is one thing w/a Pro Sport. In this case it is totally against the "Olympic Oath" that all athletes take at least symbolically, and all the Olympics are supposed to stand for.

Hard to blame the athletes for trying their best to win.

Rule changes could help prevent this... for starters, play the matches at the same time so nobody can easily plan their route.

[tsaaapla]

I think the Chinese should be banned from the Olympics, they clearly cheat at everything they do.

[Lenny Hensley]

Hard to blame the athletes for trying their best to win.

Rule changes could help prevent this... for starters, play the matches at the same time so nobody can easily plan their route.

I agree there. Can you imagine if you paid whatever ridiculous $ it must be to watch a "world class" badminton match only to have both sides trying to throw the match. It might be funny at the start, but then I think you would get pretty mad that you were not getting what you paid for.

[911_993_911]

I agree there. Can you imagine if you paid whatever ridiculous $ it must be to watch a "world class" badminton match only to have both sides trying to throw the match. It might be funny at the start, but then I think you would get pretty mad that you were not getting what you paid for.

or the ridiculous people that bet a ridiculous amount of $ on a ridiculous olympic sport.

[hotelhyatt]

It is one thing w/a Pro Sport. In this case...

In this case, it's badminton... since similar situations happen in pro sports, I think that helps my case that it's DEFINITELY ok for a backyard game.

[RilmAlime67]

or the ridiculous people that bet a ridiculous amount of $ on a ridiculous olympic sport.

Seriously? People bet on badminton?

[JimmyHas]

Seriously? People bet on badminton?

people bet on pee wee football.

[mpzoFeJs]

Seriously? People bet on badminton?

In England you can bet on anything.
...and even in America people bet on Pre-Season games, so what is dumber than that?

[Paladin]

Saw a good one...

Four Olympic badminton teams have been kicked out for intentionally losing, trying to control which teams they'd play next. Since this is badminton and not baseball, should this be called "The Black Cocks Scandal?"