Day 5: Badminton players diqualified for match-throwing, Britain wins first golds

By Sportswriter Gao Peng

LONDON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Eight women's badminton players were disqualified by the sport's governing body on Wednesday for trying to lose on purpose to secure favorable draw, while the hosts finally claimed their first gold medals at the London Games after four days of agonizing wait.

The four doubles pairs - one from China, one from Indonesia and two from South Korea - were charged by the Badminton World Federation 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Indonesia appealed the disqualification, but the BWF rejected the South Korean appeal and the Indonesia challenge was withdrawn. China accepted the federation's decision.

"The behavior by Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli on court violated the Olympics ideal and the spirit of fair play. The Chinese delegation feels distressed over this matter," the Chinese Olympic delegation said in a statement.

The eight disqualified players are 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.

Wang and Yu and their South Korean opponents Jung and Kim were booed and jeered by the spectators Tuesday night 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.

"As the head coach, I owe the fans and the Chinese an apology," said Li. "Chinese players failed to demonstrate their fighting spirit of the national team. It's me to blame."