Sanctions on South Korean players reduced

Country’s badminton association reduces ban to six months.

SEOUL: South Korean badminton authorities reduced bans for four players accused of trying to lose matches at the London Olympics from two years to six months after an appeal.

Jung Kyung-Eun, Kim Ha-Na, Ha Jung-Eun and Kim Min-Jung will not be able to play domestic and international competitions during that time, according to the Badminton Korea Association.

The four said they were only following the orders of coach Sung Han-Kook and assistant Kim Moon-Soo. The officials’ bans were slashed to two years.

Eight women’s doubles players, from South Korea, Indonesia and China were disqualified from the Games for trying to lose matches in order to secure a more favourable draw in the next phase.

The scandal prompted Chinese badminton star Yu Yang to quit the sport.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2012.