Badminton Fixing Scandal Breaks Out at Olympics
2012 London Summer Olympics

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London, England

A major match-fixing scandal rocked the London Olympic Games, with the world badminton federation (BWF) charging eight female players of throwing away their matches in order to get favorable draws later in the tournament.

A terse federation statement said, "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 entire sports fraternity was in a state of shock, as they thought the Olympic platform was far too big for someone to even comprehend doing such a thing.

The names of the eight players involved in the scandal --- China's world champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang, Indonesia's Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari and two South Korean pairs, Jung Kyung-eun & Kim Ha-na, and Ha Jung-eun & Kim Min Jung --- were immediately removed from the draw sheet.

The blatant way in which the shuttlers threw away their matches was not lost on the spectators at the Wembley Arena, who hurled invectives and booed the players amidst preposterous scenes as the players playing aimlessly and deliberately spraying their shots.

The Chinese officials did not contest the federation's decision, but issued a statement saying it had always fostered the Olympic spirit and opposed any act that contravened the spirit of sport.

South Korea was quick to come out in support of its shuttlers, saying it was China which attempted to throw away its matches first and left other countries with no option but to follow them. The Korean chief coach, Sung Han-kook, said the Chinese deliberately tried to throw the first of their matches to ensure their leading pair --- Yu and Wang --- did not play the country's No 2 pair until the title-winning stage.

A Belarus singles player, Alesia Zaitsava, came on record saying China regularly indulged in such malpractices and avoided playing between each other till the medals round.

Allegations flew thick and fast with all those associated with the sport saying countries like China and South Korea regularly indulged in fixing to enhance their medal hopes in major international competitions.

Badminton great, Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat, who won the 2004 Athens gold, was quoted as saying that Tuesday's (fixed) matches were "a circus", adding that this practice should be stopped once and for all. Others said the BWF should bring about sweeping changes in the system.

In the aftermath of the scandal the Chinese pair of Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang quit.