Disappointment all around - after China's top-seeded badminton players are disqualified for the deliberate throwing of matches in the London Games.
Team chief Li Yongbo says the poor behaviour of his players reflected the shortcomings of new regulations in the sport, adding that he was sorry they hadn't "behaved professionally as athletes."
The issue has generated much public debate in China with some saying the players deserved to be thrown out.
(SOUNDBITE) 24-YEAR-OLD I.T. WORKER WANG YAHAN SAYING:
"I think that in a situation like the Olympics, a competition at international level, if you commit malpractice for selfish gains, I think it's wrong. So I agree that they were right to have been punished this way,"
But others expressed sympathy, like this Beijing resident, who echoed Li's claims that the rules of the competition are flawed.
Following her disqualification, disgraced player Yu Yang announced angrily on her Chinese microblog that she has decided to quit badminton.
With teammate Wang Xialoi by her side, she apologized to fans in an interview with CCTV.
But the world champion said that the Olympics this year would be her last competition.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
Comments