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Schedule for Coming Events
August, 2010
03-08 Aug - YONEX Open Chinese Taipei 2010 (Taipei, TPE)
04-07 Aug - Syria International 2010 (Damascus, SYR)
14-17 Aug - California International Badminton Junior Championships (San Francisco, USA)
15-19 Aug - Youth Olympic Games Singapore (SIN)
23-29 Aug - YONEX BWF World Championships 2010 (Paris, FRA)
26-29 Aug - Bulgarian Junior International 2010 (Pazardzhik, BUL)
27-29 Aug - Fiji International Tournament (Flagstaff, FIJ)
31 Aug-05 Sep - Bitburger Open GPG 2010 (Sar-Lox-Lux, LUX)
September, 2010
03-05 Sep - Tahiti French Polynesia International Series 2010 (Papeete, TAHITI)
03-05 Sep - Slovak Junior 2010 (Presov, SVK)
07-12 Sep - 11th World University Badminton Championship (Taipei, Chinese Taipei )
08-11 Sep - Ukarine International Junior (Dnepropetrovsk, UKR)
08-12 Sep - Guatemala International Challenge (Guatemala City, Guatemala)
09-12 Sep - Noumea International 2010 (Noumea, NCL)
09-12 Sep - Yonex Belgian International 2010 (Mechelen, BEL)
14-19 Sep - LI NING China Masters Super Series 2010 (Changzhou, CHN)
16-19 Sep - Kharkov International 2010 (Kharkov, UKR)
16-19 Sep - II Colombia Internacional De Badminton (Bogota, COL)
21-26 Sep - YONEX Open Japan Super Series 2010 (Tokyo, JPN)
23-26 Sep - VICTOR Slovak Open 2010 (Presov, SVK)
24-26 Sep - YONEX Belgian Junior (Waterloo, BEL)
27 Sep-02 Oct - 2010 European Senior Championships (Dundalk, IRL)
30 Sep-03 Oct - Yonex Czech International (CZE)
October, 2010
01-03 Oct - HEAD Lausanne Youth International (Prilly-Lausanne, SUI)
03-14 Oct - COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010 (Delhi, IND)
05-10 Oct - YONEX-SUNRISE Vietnam Open Grand Prix 2010 (Ho Chi Minh, VIE)
06-09 Oct - Mongolia International Series 2010 (Ulaanbaatar, MGL)
07-10 Oct - 25th Brazil International Badminton Cup (Sao Paolo, BRA)
07-10 Oct - PRINTCOM Bulgarian International 2010 (Sofia, BUL)
08-10 Oct - Croatian Junior International (Porec, CRO)
12-17 Oct - Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold 2010 (East Kalimantan, INA)
14-17 Oct - SOTX Cyprus International 2010 (CYP)
15-17 Oct - TOM FORZA Slovenia Junior International 2010 (Mirna, SLO)
19-24 Oct - XVI Panam Championship 2010 (Curitiba, BRA)
19-24 Oct - Dutch Open Grand Prix 2010 (Almere ,NED)
26-31 Oct - Denmark Open Super Series 2010 (Odense, DEN)
28-31 Oct - Santo Domingo 2010 (Parque Del Este, DOM)
29 Oct-01 Nov - Badminton Asia Youth Under 17 and Under 15 Badminton Championships 2010 (JPN)
November, 2010
02-07 Nov - French Open Super Series 2010 (Paris, FRA)
03-07 Nov - Laos International Challenge 2010 (LAO)
04-07 Nov - 35th Yonex Hungarian International 2010 (Budapest, HUN)
04-07 Nov - Puerto Rico International (PUR)
09-14 Nov - Malaysia International Challenge (Sabah, MAS)
10-13 Nov - XII Miami Pan Am Championships (Miami, USA)
11-14 Nov - Iceland International (2010, ISL)
13-21 Nov - ASIAN Games (Guangzhou, CHN)
18-21 Nov - Norwegian International 2010 (Oslo, NOR)
18-21 Nov - YONEX Czech Junior International 2010 (Orlova-Lutyne, CZE)
18-21 Nov - IV Suriname International (Paramaibo, SUR)
23-26 Nov - West Asia Team Championships (Manama, BAH)
23-28 Nov - Korea Open GP 2010 (KOR)
24-28 Nov - Scottish International Championships 2010 (Glasgow, SCO)
25-28 Nov - South African International 2010 (Pretoria, RSA)
25-28 Nov - II Internacional Tournament Bicentenario 2010 (Mexico City, MEX)
30 Nov-02 Dec - BOTSWANA International (Gaborong, BOTSWANA)
30 Nov-04 Dec - Bahrain International Challenge 2010 (Manama, BAH)
30 Nov-05 Dec - LI NING China Open Super Series 2010 (Shanghai, CHN)
December, 2010
01-05 Dec - Kaohsiung International Challenge (Kaohsiung, TPE)
02-05 Dec - Yonex Welsh International 2010 (Cardiff, WAL)
03-05 Dec - II Portuguese International Junior Championships (Caldas Da Rainha, POR)
07-12 Dec - YONEX-SUNRISE Hong Kong Open Super Series 2010 (Hong Kong, HKG)
09-12 Dec - Yonex Irish International 2010 (Dublin, IRL)
13-19 Dec - LI NING Singapore Youth International (SIN)
14-17 Dec - X Italian International 2010 (Roma, ITA)
14-19 Dec - Syed Modi India Grand Prix 2010 (TBC, IND)
18-20 Dec - 2010 USBDF Winter Junior International (Los Angeles, USA)
20-23 Dec - Turkey International 2010 (Istanbul, TUR)
27-29 Dec - Copenhagen Masters 2010 (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Overall Of Badminton
History
In the 5th century BC, the people in china then played a game called ti jian zi. A direct translation from this word 'ti jian zi' is kicking the shuttle. As the name suggest, the objective of the game is to keep the shuttle from hitting the ground without using hand. Whether this sport has anything to do with the History of Badminton is up for debate. It was however the first game that uses a Shuttle.
About five centuries later, a game named Battledore and Shuttlecock was played in china, Japan, India and Greece. This is a game where you use the Battledore (a paddle) to hit the Shuttlecock back and forth. By the 16th century, it has become a popular game among children in England. In Europe this game was known as jeu de volant to them. In the 1860s, a game named Poona was played in India. This game is much like the Battledore and Shuttlecock but with an added net. The British army learned this game in India and took the equipments back to England during the 1870s.
In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort held a lawn party in his country place, Badminton. A game of Poona was played on that day and became popular among the British society's elite. The new party sport became known as "the Badminton game". In 1877, the Bath Badminton Club was formed and developed the first official set of rules.
The International Badminton Federation (IBF) was formed in 1934 with 9 founding members.
- England
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
- Denmark
- Holland
- Canada
- New Zealand
- France
Since then, major international tournaments like the Thomas Cup (Men) and Uber Cup (Women) were held. Badminton was officially granted Olympic status in the 1992 Barcelona Games. From 9 founding members, IBF now have over 150 member countries. The future of Badminton looks bright indeed.
Rules
Toss
The rules of badminton states that a toss shall be conducted before a game starts. If you win, you can choose between serving first or to start play at either end of the court. Your opponent can then exercise the remaining choice.
Scoring system
The rules of badminton states that a badminton match shall consist of the best of 3 games. In doubles and men's singles, the first side to score 15 points wins the game. In women's singles, the first side to score 11 points wins the game.
If the score becomes 14-all (10-all in women's singles), the side which first scored 14 (10) shall exercise the choice to continue the game to 15 (11) points or to 'set' the game to 17 (13) points.
The side winning a game serves first in the next game. Only the serving side can add a point to its score.
Recently BWF have been testing a new scoring format of 21 points per game on all major Badminton competition and decided to replace the old format permanently.
Change of ends
The rules of badminton states that you have to change ends with your opponent after finishing the first game. If a third game was to be played, you shall change ends when the leading score reaches 6 in a game of 11 points or 8 in a game of 15 points.
Rules of Badminton - Singles
Serving and receiving courts
You shall serve from, and receive in, the right service court when you or your opponent has scored an even number of points in that game.
You shall serve from, and receive in, the left service court when you or your opponent has scored an odd number of points in that game.
You and your opponent will hit the shuttle alternately until a 'fault' is made or the shuttle ceases to be in play.
Scoring and serving
You score a point and serve again from the alternate service court when your opponent makes a 'fault' or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your opponent's side of court.
No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your side of court. The serving right will then be transferred to your opponent.
Rules of Badminton - Doubles
At the start of the game, and each time a side gains the right to serve, the service shall be delivered from the right service court. Only your opponent standing diagonally opposite of you shall return the service.
Should your opponent's partner touched or hit the shuttle, it shall be a 'fault' and your side scores a point.
Order of play and position on court
After the service is returned, either you or your partner may hit the shuttle from any position on your side of the net. Then either player from the opposing side may do the same, and so on, until the shuttle ceases to be in play.
Scoring and serving
If you are serving or receiving first at the start of any game, you shall serve or receive in the right service court when your side or your opponent's side scored an even number of points.
You shall serve from or receive in the left service court when your side or your opponent's side has scored an odd number of points.
The reverse pattern shall apply to your partner.
In any game, the right to serve passes consecutively from the initial server to the initial receiver, then to that initial's receiver's partner, then to the opponent who is due to serve from the right service court, then to that player's partner, and so on.
You shall not serve out of turn, receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive services in the same game, except as provided in service court errors and 'lets'.
Service court errors
A service court error has been made when a player has served out of turn, has served from the wrong service or standing on the wrong service court while being prepared to receive the service and it has been delivered.
If a service court error is discovered after the next service had been delivered, the error shall not be corrected. If a service court error is discovered before the next service is delivered, the following rules apply.
If both sides committed an error, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and won the rally, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and lost the rally, the error shall not be corrected.
If there is a 'let' because of a service court error, the rally is replayed with the error corrected. If a service court error is not to be corrected, play in that game shall proceed without changing the player's new service courts.
Faults
The rules of badminton consider the following as faults:
- If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person or dress of a player or touches any other object or person.
- If the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side of the net. (The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke.)
- If a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress, invades an opponent's court over the net with racket or person except as permitted.
- If a player invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or distracted or obstructs an opponent, that is prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed over the net.
- If a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making gestures.
- If the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke.
- If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes.
- If the shuttle is hit by a player and the player's partner successively or touches a player's racket and continues towards the back of that player's court.
- If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Law of Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties.
- If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top, or, on service, after passing over the net is caught in the net.
Lets
'Let' is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.
A 'let' may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence.The rules of badminton consider the following as 'lets':
- If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after passing over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on service.
- If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time, it shall be a 'let'.
- If the server serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a 'let'.
- If, during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from the rest of the shuttle, is shall be a 'let'.
- If a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision, it shall be a 'let'.
- A 'let' may occur following a service court error. When a 'let' occurs, the play since the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve again, except where in situations where the Law of Service Court Errors is applicable.
Shuttle not in play
A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net and remains attached there or suspended on top.
A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net or post and starts to fall towards the surface of the court on the striker's side of the net.
A shuttle is not in play when it hits the surface of the court or a 'fault' or 'let' has occurred.
Continuous play, misconduct, penalties
Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except as allowed in intervals not exceeding 90 seconds between the first and second games, and not exceeding 5 minutes between the second and third games.
Officials and appeals
The referee is in overall charge of the tournament. The umpire, where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its immediate surrounds. The umpire shall report to the referee. The service judge shall call service faults made by the server should they occur. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed 'in' or 'out' on the line or lines assigned. An official's decision is final on all points of fact for which that official is responsible.
An umpire shall:
- Upload and enforce the Rules of Badminton and, especially, call a 'fault' or 'let' should either occur.
- Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is delivered.
- Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match.
- Appoint or remove line judges or a service judge in consultation with the referee.
- Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that official's duties to be carried out.
- Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or play a 'let'.
- Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to continuous play, misconduct and penalties.
- Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such appeals must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of the game, before the side that appeals has left the court.)
Court
The Badminton Court shall be a rectangle laid out with lines of 40mm wide, preferably in white or yellow color. The Badminton Court Dimensions are of 13.4m in length and 6.1m in width. The post shall be 1.55m in height from the surface of the court and shall remain vertical when the net is strained. The net shall be made of fine cord of dark color and even thickness with a mesh of not less than 15mm and not more than 20mm. The net shall be 760mm in depth and at least 6.1m wide.
The top of the net shall be edged with a 75mm white cloth. The top of the net from the surface of the court shall be 1.524m (5ft) at the centre of the court and 1.55m (5ft 1in) over the side lines for doubles. There shall be no gaps between the ends of the net and the posts. If necessary, the full depth of the net should be tied at the ends.
In the 5th century BC, the people in china then played a game called ti jian zi. A direct translation from this word 'ti jian zi' is kicking the shuttle. As the name suggest, the objective of the game is to keep the shuttle from hitting the ground without using hand. Whether this sport has anything to do with the History of Badminton is up for debate. It was however the first game that uses a Shuttle.
About five centuries later, a game named Battledore and Shuttlecock was played in china, Japan, India and Greece. This is a game where you use the Battledore (a paddle) to hit the Shuttlecock back and forth. By the 16th century, it has become a popular game among children in England. In Europe this game was known as jeu de volant to them. In the 1860s, a game named Poona was played in India. This game is much like the Battledore and Shuttlecock but with an added net. The British army learned this game in India and took the equipments back to England during the 1870s.
In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort held a lawn party in his country place, Badminton. A game of Poona was played on that day and became popular among the British society's elite. The new party sport became known as "the Badminton game". In 1877, the Bath Badminton Club was formed and developed the first official set of rules.
The International Badminton Federation (IBF) was formed in 1934 with 9 founding members.
- England
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
- Denmark
- Holland
- Canada
- New Zealand
- France
Since then, major international tournaments like the Thomas Cup (Men) and Uber Cup (Women) were held. Badminton was officially granted Olympic status in the 1992 Barcelona Games. From 9 founding members, IBF now have over 150 member countries. The future of Badminton looks bright indeed.
Rules
Toss
The rules of badminton states that a toss shall be conducted before a game starts. If you win, you can choose between serving first or to start play at either end of the court. Your opponent can then exercise the remaining choice.
Scoring system
The rules of badminton states that a badminton match shall consist of the best of 3 games. In doubles and men's singles, the first side to score 15 points wins the game. In women's singles, the first side to score 11 points wins the game.
If the score becomes 14-all (10-all in women's singles), the side which first scored 14 (10) shall exercise the choice to continue the game to 15 (11) points or to 'set' the game to 17 (13) points.
The side winning a game serves first in the next game. Only the serving side can add a point to its score.
Recently BWF have been testing a new scoring format of 21 points per game on all major Badminton competition and decided to replace the old format permanently.
Change of ends
The rules of badminton states that you have to change ends with your opponent after finishing the first game. If a third game was to be played, you shall change ends when the leading score reaches 6 in a game of 11 points or 8 in a game of 15 points.
Rules of Badminton - Singles
Serving and receiving courts
You shall serve from, and receive in, the right service court when you or your opponent has scored an even number of points in that game.
You shall serve from, and receive in, the left service court when you or your opponent has scored an odd number of points in that game.
You and your opponent will hit the shuttle alternately until a 'fault' is made or the shuttle ceases to be in play.
Scoring and serving
You score a point and serve again from the alternate service court when your opponent makes a 'fault' or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your opponent's side of court.
No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your side of court. The serving right will then be transferred to your opponent.
Rules of Badminton - Doubles
At the start of the game, and each time a side gains the right to serve, the service shall be delivered from the right service court. Only your opponent standing diagonally opposite of you shall return the service.
Should your opponent's partner touched or hit the shuttle, it shall be a 'fault' and your side scores a point.
Order of play and position on court
After the service is returned, either you or your partner may hit the shuttle from any position on your side of the net. Then either player from the opposing side may do the same, and so on, until the shuttle ceases to be in play.
Scoring and serving
If you are serving or receiving first at the start of any game, you shall serve or receive in the right service court when your side or your opponent's side scored an even number of points.
You shall serve from or receive in the left service court when your side or your opponent's side has scored an odd number of points.
The reverse pattern shall apply to your partner.
In any game, the right to serve passes consecutively from the initial server to the initial receiver, then to that initial's receiver's partner, then to the opponent who is due to serve from the right service court, then to that player's partner, and so on.
You shall not serve out of turn, receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive services in the same game, except as provided in service court errors and 'lets'.
Service court errors
A service court error has been made when a player has served out of turn, has served from the wrong service or standing on the wrong service court while being prepared to receive the service and it has been delivered.
If a service court error is discovered after the next service had been delivered, the error shall not be corrected. If a service court error is discovered before the next service is delivered, the following rules apply.
If both sides committed an error, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and won the rally, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and lost the rally, the error shall not be corrected.
If there is a 'let' because of a service court error, the rally is replayed with the error corrected. If a service court error is not to be corrected, play in that game shall proceed without changing the player's new service courts.
Faults
The rules of badminton consider the following as faults:
- If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person or dress of a player or touches any other object or person.
- If the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side of the net. (The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke.)
- If a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress, invades an opponent's court over the net with racket or person except as permitted.
- If a player invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or distracted or obstructs an opponent, that is prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed over the net.
- If a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making gestures.
- If the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke.
- If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes.
- If the shuttle is hit by a player and the player's partner successively or touches a player's racket and continues towards the back of that player's court.
- If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Law of Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties.
- If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top, or, on service, after passing over the net is caught in the net.
Lets
'Let' is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.
A 'let' may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence.The rules of badminton consider the following as 'lets':
- If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after passing over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on service.
- If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time, it shall be a 'let'.
- If the server serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a 'let'.
- If, during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from the rest of the shuttle, is shall be a 'let'.
- If a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision, it shall be a 'let'.
- A 'let' may occur following a service court error. When a 'let' occurs, the play since the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve again, except where in situations where the Law of Service Court Errors is applicable.
Shuttle not in play
A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net and remains attached there or suspended on top.
A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net or post and starts to fall towards the surface of the court on the striker's side of the net.
A shuttle is not in play when it hits the surface of the court or a 'fault' or 'let' has occurred.
Continuous play, misconduct, penalties
Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except as allowed in intervals not exceeding 90 seconds between the first and second games, and not exceeding 5 minutes between the second and third games.
Officials and appeals
The referee is in overall charge of the tournament. The umpire, where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its immediate surrounds. The umpire shall report to the referee. The service judge shall call service faults made by the server should they occur. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed 'in' or 'out' on the line or lines assigned. An official's decision is final on all points of fact for which that official is responsible.
An umpire shall:
- Upload and enforce the Rules of Badminton and, especially, call a 'fault' or 'let' should either occur.
- Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is delivered.
- Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match.
- Appoint or remove line judges or a service judge in consultation with the referee.
- Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that official's duties to be carried out.
- Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or play a 'let'.
- Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to continuous play, misconduct and penalties.
- Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such appeals must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of the game, before the side that appeals has left the court.)
Court
The Badminton Court shall be a rectangle laid out with lines of 40mm wide, preferably in white or yellow color. The Badminton Court Dimensions are of 13.4m in length and 6.1m in width. The post shall be 1.55m in height from the surface of the court and shall remain vertical when the net is strained. The net shall be made of fine cord of dark color and even thickness with a mesh of not less than 15mm and not more than 20mm. The net shall be 760mm in depth and at least 6.1m wide.
The top of the net shall be edged with a 75mm white cloth. The top of the net from the surface of the court shall be 1.524m (5ft) at the centre of the court and 1.55m (5ft 1in) over the side lines for doubles. There shall be no gaps between the ends of the net and the posts. If necessary, the full depth of the net should be tied at the ends.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Badminton takes up match fixing fight
Author: Play the Game - Maria Suurballe
Date: 21 Jul 2008
Category: General News
Long-held suspicions were confirmed in late March this year, when Chinese badminton coach Li Yongbo admitted to fixing one of the women’s singles semi-finals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Thus far, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has failed to get an explanation from China over the admission. The Badminton Players Federation (BPF) is keen for answers though, and calls for tough sanctions against the Chinese coach.
After the admission by Li Yongbo, the BWF began to set up an Ethics Commission to deal with similar incidents in the future, though its progress has disappointed the BPF.
“Not enough action has been taken,” says Bobby Milroy, President of Badminton Players Federation. “In such a case where Li Yongbo feels it appropriate to boast about match-fixing, the BWF should do whatever it takes to ensure his immediate dismissal.”
“My recommendation at the time was to ban Chinese players from all competitions, including the Olympics, until such time as Li Yongbo was fired,” continues Milroy.
How the BWF would react to such a proposal coming from its Ethics Commission is uncertain. The world governing body for badminton has been contacted for a response by Play the Game, though at the time of writing is yet to respond. However, given the popularity of badminton in China, it would be a bold move for the BWF to eliminate the Chinese team on the verge of the Beijing Olympics.
Players unhappy
Why Li Yongbo decided to go public with this admission remains unclear, though his admissions come as no surprise to many top badminton players.
Among them is Anna Rice, Canada’s top female singles player and world number 30, who has been outspoken in her criticism of the toleration of this form of match fixing in international badminton.
“Apparently Chinese coaches have publicly admitted fixing matches for years, and to the Chinese it is regarded to be an act of patriotism to make the best win”, says Rice to Play the Game.
According to Yongbo, the Chinese team has nothing to be ashamed of as China has a history of favouring certain players when two of them meet at international events. “It shows our patriotism and in fact I’m proud of it,” Yongbo told China Central Television’s sports channel.
Rice disagrees: “In Asia there seem to be widespread knowledge about the fixing of matches, apparently without this being a matter of major concern within the national federations.”
Empathy and concern
Fellow Canadian Martha Deacon, the former president of Badminton Canada, echoes her views.
“The public admission of match fixing has been of great concern to athletes worldwide. Great empathy and concern is expressed to athletes who have become direct victims of this. The players in most countries will not tolerate this unfair play,” says Deacon to Play the Game.
Yongbo’s admission centred on the semi-final at the Athens Olympics between Zhou Mi and Zhang Ning. After watching Zhang win the first game, the coaching staff decided that she would have a better chance at winning the final against a non-Chinese opponent rather than Zhou. “So we told Zhou Mi not to work too hard and let Zhang into the final,” Yongbo, the Chinese coach, told television reporters.
Zhang won the gold as planned over Mia Audina representing the Netherlands, and is expected to defend her Olympic title at the Beijing Games in August. After the tournament, Zhou quit the Chinese team and went to play for Hong Kong. She has now qualified to represent the territory at the Beijing Olympics.
The Players Federation takes this case very seriously: “The BPF will continue to push for harsher sanctions against anyone caught match fixing. It is also our intention to open an investigation into match fixing practices,” says Bobby Milroy to Play the Game.
Match fixing widespread
Apparently the 2004 Olympics case was not a one-off. “The issue of match fixing is not only a problem in the women's singles, it affects all five disciplines,” writes Rice on her personal blog http://www.annarice.org/.
At the All-England Super Series Men’s Singles final in March this year there were suspicions about the Chinese player and world number one in the men’s singles, Lin Dan’s defeat to teammate Chen Jin. And in April’s Asian Championship in Malaysia, Lin Dan again failed to play his best as he lost to Chen Jin in the semi-finals.
Experts suggest that Lin Dan threw the match in order to get Chen Jin into the final to ensure a ranking of fourth in the world, thereby guaranteeing qualification for the Olympics for Chen Jin and hereby secure the Chinese Team an extra player.
“It is very telling that many journalists at the 2008 All-England had their articles about the Men's Singles final already written the night before the match. The outcome was clearly pre-determined”, concludes Rice.
Absence of individualism
According to Dr. Huan Xiong from Irish Institute of Chinese Studies at University College Cork in Ireland, there are some basic explanations to this phenomenon, which may be embedded in the Chinese social system.
“For a long time, no individualism has existed in Chinese society. Everyone belongs to the state and has to obey to the nation. The interests of nation and the state always come first when social members make their decisions. This ideology is also reflected in sport. To guarantee the final success of the games, the team manager has the right to decide which player is going to play and win for next matches,” Huan Xiong tells Play the Game.
Athletes, who are selected as young kids, trained, and paid by the Chinese Government are pretty much like employees of the Government. “Their job is to win medals and serve the nation. Emotionally, the sports teams are their second homes and they have to listen to their coaches, managers, who play the roles like their parents” Huan Xiong continues.
However, Huan Xiong believes that this phenomenon in Chinese sport will change in the process of market-oriented transformation. Some of the athletes have become aware of their own individual rights and interests.
Beijing Olympics
But when Anna Rice takes to the court this summer in Beijing, it will not just be this kind of match fixing that will worry the Canadian and her fellow players.
Other circumstances cause concern for players, such as the amount of Chinese referees and line judges during the matches in Beijing, bringing into question the impartiality of the officiating at the Games. According to the IOC rules, a minimum of ten percent of the referees and line judges at the Olympic matches should be foreigners, and the Chinese organizers have kept close to that figure when the referee team was set.
The fear of unfair verdicts is backed up by Danish national badminton coach, Steen Pedersen, who worries that the passion for badminton in China will mean that match officials will feel compelled to ensure Chinese victories. “Fair play is not on top of their list and that will without doubt influence on the verdicts during the Games,” says Pedersen to Play the Game.
Danish players have often played in China and they are used to be cheated by the Chinese referees and line judges, believes the Danish coach. “That’s the conditions we have to play under; the important thing is to be well prepared when you meet these types of challenges and to be able to control your emotions, even if you get a clearly unfair verdict,” Pedersen concludes.
To counteract these biases, Pedersen advocates for new rules regarding referees and line judges, especially at big events such as the Olympics in order to obtain more neutral verdicts during the matches and to secure that the Olympic Games first and foremost is a matter of fair play and sportsmanship.
More transparency in badminton
However, in spite of the wrangling and tension within the Badminton World Federation and the recent admissions of fixed matches, Pedersen is optimistic regarding the future: “BWF is moving in a positive direction, especially after the resignation of Punch Gunalan, the former vice president of BWF. Now we need to agree on some rules and penalties pointing forward to avoid match fixing.”
Nonetheless, Rice an ambassador for the pressure group “Right to Play”, believes it is important to her to get the problems in international badminton out in the open, also in western countries where badminton is not such a big sport as it is in Asia: “I take the issue of match fixing in our sport very seriously. To me it is as much a form of cheating as is doping. Not only does it cast a light of illegitimacy on our entire sport (and everyone involved with it), it also takes away the right of players to pursue their own destiny.”
Rice suggests a special committee set up within the IOC to investigate the incidents and to punish the teams. “It is important to create a body to ensure, protect and promote the ethical values of our sport,” she concludes.
A similar proposal was put forward by Play the Game in 2006, for a global coalition against corruption in sport, similar to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
“We have seen and documented so many instances of corruption, democratic deficiencies and sporting swindles, which can neither be solved by sports organisations' own ethical committees – which in reality function as bottles for delicate questions – nor by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or the International Olympic Committee. There are too many opportunities for corruption and cheating in international sport, and there is quite simply a need for one authority, which can in a credible way devise a rulebook that ensures sports leaders can be sentenced with similar penalties to the ones they impose on the athletes,” believes Jens Sejer Andersen, Director of Play the Game.
The idea of an anti-corruption agency appeals to the BPF: “I would really like to be involved with it in some capacity,” Milroy tells Play the Game.
According to Martha Deacon, the athletes have to be united and step up to the plate to say this is unacceptable to ensure the integrity of badminton and for unethical practices to be challenged and stopped. “Bobby Milroy, the BWF Player Representative will be in China to continue to advocate for the game and what is right and fair. He needs the support of nations, of policy makers of NOC as he tries to move forward.”
“There has to be some very tough measures and sanctions put into place and monitored for the future,” says Deacon. “Everyone involved in badminton must take off their own ‘hats’ and find a way to work together and find common ground for the future of the sport”.
Date: 21 Jul 2008
Category: General News
Long-held suspicions were confirmed in late March this year, when Chinese badminton coach Li Yongbo admitted to fixing one of the women’s singles semi-finals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Thus far, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has failed to get an explanation from China over the admission. The Badminton Players Federation (BPF) is keen for answers though, and calls for tough sanctions against the Chinese coach.
After the admission by Li Yongbo, the BWF began to set up an Ethics Commission to deal with similar incidents in the future, though its progress has disappointed the BPF.
“Not enough action has been taken,” says Bobby Milroy, President of Badminton Players Federation. “In such a case where Li Yongbo feels it appropriate to boast about match-fixing, the BWF should do whatever it takes to ensure his immediate dismissal.”
“My recommendation at the time was to ban Chinese players from all competitions, including the Olympics, until such time as Li Yongbo was fired,” continues Milroy.
How the BWF would react to such a proposal coming from its Ethics Commission is uncertain. The world governing body for badminton has been contacted for a response by Play the Game, though at the time of writing is yet to respond. However, given the popularity of badminton in China, it would be a bold move for the BWF to eliminate the Chinese team on the verge of the Beijing Olympics.
Players unhappy
Why Li Yongbo decided to go public with this admission remains unclear, though his admissions come as no surprise to many top badminton players.
Among them is Anna Rice, Canada’s top female singles player and world number 30, who has been outspoken in her criticism of the toleration of this form of match fixing in international badminton.
“Apparently Chinese coaches have publicly admitted fixing matches for years, and to the Chinese it is regarded to be an act of patriotism to make the best win”, says Rice to Play the Game.
According to Yongbo, the Chinese team has nothing to be ashamed of as China has a history of favouring certain players when two of them meet at international events. “It shows our patriotism and in fact I’m proud of it,” Yongbo told China Central Television’s sports channel.
Rice disagrees: “In Asia there seem to be widespread knowledge about the fixing of matches, apparently without this being a matter of major concern within the national federations.”
Empathy and concern
Fellow Canadian Martha Deacon, the former president of Badminton Canada, echoes her views.
“The public admission of match fixing has been of great concern to athletes worldwide. Great empathy and concern is expressed to athletes who have become direct victims of this. The players in most countries will not tolerate this unfair play,” says Deacon to Play the Game.
Yongbo’s admission centred on the semi-final at the Athens Olympics between Zhou Mi and Zhang Ning. After watching Zhang win the first game, the coaching staff decided that she would have a better chance at winning the final against a non-Chinese opponent rather than Zhou. “So we told Zhou Mi not to work too hard and let Zhang into the final,” Yongbo, the Chinese coach, told television reporters.
Zhang won the gold as planned over Mia Audina representing the Netherlands, and is expected to defend her Olympic title at the Beijing Games in August. After the tournament, Zhou quit the Chinese team and went to play for Hong Kong. She has now qualified to represent the territory at the Beijing Olympics.
The Players Federation takes this case very seriously: “The BPF will continue to push for harsher sanctions against anyone caught match fixing. It is also our intention to open an investigation into match fixing practices,” says Bobby Milroy to Play the Game.
Match fixing widespread
Apparently the 2004 Olympics case was not a one-off. “The issue of match fixing is not only a problem in the women's singles, it affects all five disciplines,” writes Rice on her personal blog http://www.annarice.org/.
At the All-England Super Series Men’s Singles final in March this year there were suspicions about the Chinese player and world number one in the men’s singles, Lin Dan’s defeat to teammate Chen Jin. And in April’s Asian Championship in Malaysia, Lin Dan again failed to play his best as he lost to Chen Jin in the semi-finals.
Experts suggest that Lin Dan threw the match in order to get Chen Jin into the final to ensure a ranking of fourth in the world, thereby guaranteeing qualification for the Olympics for Chen Jin and hereby secure the Chinese Team an extra player.
“It is very telling that many journalists at the 2008 All-England had their articles about the Men's Singles final already written the night before the match. The outcome was clearly pre-determined”, concludes Rice.
Absence of individualism
According to Dr. Huan Xiong from Irish Institute of Chinese Studies at University College Cork in Ireland, there are some basic explanations to this phenomenon, which may be embedded in the Chinese social system.
“For a long time, no individualism has existed in Chinese society. Everyone belongs to the state and has to obey to the nation. The interests of nation and the state always come first when social members make their decisions. This ideology is also reflected in sport. To guarantee the final success of the games, the team manager has the right to decide which player is going to play and win for next matches,” Huan Xiong tells Play the Game.
Athletes, who are selected as young kids, trained, and paid by the Chinese Government are pretty much like employees of the Government. “Their job is to win medals and serve the nation. Emotionally, the sports teams are their second homes and they have to listen to their coaches, managers, who play the roles like their parents” Huan Xiong continues.
However, Huan Xiong believes that this phenomenon in Chinese sport will change in the process of market-oriented transformation. Some of the athletes have become aware of their own individual rights and interests.
Beijing Olympics
But when Anna Rice takes to the court this summer in Beijing, it will not just be this kind of match fixing that will worry the Canadian and her fellow players.
Other circumstances cause concern for players, such as the amount of Chinese referees and line judges during the matches in Beijing, bringing into question the impartiality of the officiating at the Games. According to the IOC rules, a minimum of ten percent of the referees and line judges at the Olympic matches should be foreigners, and the Chinese organizers have kept close to that figure when the referee team was set.
The fear of unfair verdicts is backed up by Danish national badminton coach, Steen Pedersen, who worries that the passion for badminton in China will mean that match officials will feel compelled to ensure Chinese victories. “Fair play is not on top of their list and that will without doubt influence on the verdicts during the Games,” says Pedersen to Play the Game.
Danish players have often played in China and they are used to be cheated by the Chinese referees and line judges, believes the Danish coach. “That’s the conditions we have to play under; the important thing is to be well prepared when you meet these types of challenges and to be able to control your emotions, even if you get a clearly unfair verdict,” Pedersen concludes.
To counteract these biases, Pedersen advocates for new rules regarding referees and line judges, especially at big events such as the Olympics in order to obtain more neutral verdicts during the matches and to secure that the Olympic Games first and foremost is a matter of fair play and sportsmanship.
More transparency in badminton
However, in spite of the wrangling and tension within the Badminton World Federation and the recent admissions of fixed matches, Pedersen is optimistic regarding the future: “BWF is moving in a positive direction, especially after the resignation of Punch Gunalan, the former vice president of BWF. Now we need to agree on some rules and penalties pointing forward to avoid match fixing.”
Nonetheless, Rice an ambassador for the pressure group “Right to Play”, believes it is important to her to get the problems in international badminton out in the open, also in western countries where badminton is not such a big sport as it is in Asia: “I take the issue of match fixing in our sport very seriously. To me it is as much a form of cheating as is doping. Not only does it cast a light of illegitimacy on our entire sport (and everyone involved with it), it also takes away the right of players to pursue their own destiny.”
Rice suggests a special committee set up within the IOC to investigate the incidents and to punish the teams. “It is important to create a body to ensure, protect and promote the ethical values of our sport,” she concludes.
A similar proposal was put forward by Play the Game in 2006, for a global coalition against corruption in sport, similar to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
“We have seen and documented so many instances of corruption, democratic deficiencies and sporting swindles, which can neither be solved by sports organisations' own ethical committees – which in reality function as bottles for delicate questions – nor by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or the International Olympic Committee. There are too many opportunities for corruption and cheating in international sport, and there is quite simply a need for one authority, which can in a credible way devise a rulebook that ensures sports leaders can be sentenced with similar penalties to the ones they impose on the athletes,” believes Jens Sejer Andersen, Director of Play the Game.
The idea of an anti-corruption agency appeals to the BPF: “I would really like to be involved with it in some capacity,” Milroy tells Play the Game.
According to Martha Deacon, the athletes have to be united and step up to the plate to say this is unacceptable to ensure the integrity of badminton and for unethical practices to be challenged and stopped. “Bobby Milroy, the BWF Player Representative will be in China to continue to advocate for the game and what is right and fair. He needs the support of nations, of policy makers of NOC as he tries to move forward.”
“There has to be some very tough measures and sanctions put into place and monitored for the future,” says Deacon. “Everyone involved in badminton must take off their own ‘hats’ and find a way to work together and find common ground for the future of the sport”.
Badminton Scotland pull player funding
Author: Glasgow Evening Times
Date: 31 Dec 2008
Category: General News
SCOTLAND'S top badminton player has slammed the sport's ruling body - after it pulled his funding just months before the World Championships.
Alistair Casey has been the Scottish No1 ranked men's singles player in the world for four years running.
The talented player has recently qualified for the individual men's heats of this year's World Badminton Championships.
But he says he's facing a funding crisis as Badminton Scotland is refusing to give him financial support.
Now Alistair, who has played in some of the world's top series, claims his career is hanging by a thread.
And the former badminton bad-boy is appealing to Glasgow firms to give him a funding boost. He said: "The lack of funding is very destructive to the sport and we need to find a solution.
"I know many players who have lost funding and have had to drop out of playing.
In his younger years, Alistair was a some-time controversial figure on the badminton ciruit.
Aged 22, he was accused of drinking too heavily at weekends and taken to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting by his coach.
He also riled the badminton community in 2005 after he hit back at Dan Travers, Scotland's then high performance coach, who had criticised male players for not committing to the game.
However, the 28-year-old says his boisterous years are behind him and his main concern is representing his country at an international level.
Alistair, from Queen's Cross, added: "You don't get into the top tournaments unless you go out and play the top tournaments around the world.
"But there is just no support in Scotland for young players unless they only play UK and European matches, meaning you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Alistair began playing the sport aged 14 when his parents sent him to a Glasgow City Council summer school at the Kelvinhall.
During the week-long course, he discovered a love for the game and decided to commit himself full time to the sport.
Since turning professional aged 18, Alistair has balanced his training schedule with working full time to top up his funding pot.
Last year he sold McChuills Bar, on High Street, to get cash to support himself this year.
He also gains minimal funding from a club in Spain and has played for clubs in New Zealand and Australia.
During the past four years Alistair says he has spent more than £25,000 of his own money playing in two Super Series Events in China and Hong Kong.
He is the only Scot to have qualified for the men's singles in the 2009 Badminton World Federation World Championships and is ranked 69 in the world.
Anne Smillie, chief executive of Badminton Scotland, said: "The World Badminton Championships are not actually being supported by Badminton Scotland as they are not in our tournament programme.
"Alistair has elected to compete at his own expense and has not taken part in Scottish tournaments for as long as I can remember, although we have encouraged him to do so.
"Last year we invested £100,000 in supporting young badminton players and I wish Alistair all the best with future tournaments."
Date: 31 Dec 2008
Category: General News
SCOTLAND'S top badminton player has slammed the sport's ruling body - after it pulled his funding just months before the World Championships.
Alistair Casey has been the Scottish No1 ranked men's singles player in the world for four years running.
The talented player has recently qualified for the individual men's heats of this year's World Badminton Championships.
But he says he's facing a funding crisis as Badminton Scotland is refusing to give him financial support.
Now Alistair, who has played in some of the world's top series, claims his career is hanging by a thread.
And the former badminton bad-boy is appealing to Glasgow firms to give him a funding boost. He said: "The lack of funding is very destructive to the sport and we need to find a solution.
"I know many players who have lost funding and have had to drop out of playing.
In his younger years, Alistair was a some-time controversial figure on the badminton ciruit.
Aged 22, he was accused of drinking too heavily at weekends and taken to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting by his coach.
He also riled the badminton community in 2005 after he hit back at Dan Travers, Scotland's then high performance coach, who had criticised male players for not committing to the game.
However, the 28-year-old says his boisterous years are behind him and his main concern is representing his country at an international level.
Alistair, from Queen's Cross, added: "You don't get into the top tournaments unless you go out and play the top tournaments around the world.
"But there is just no support in Scotland for young players unless they only play UK and European matches, meaning you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Alistair began playing the sport aged 14 when his parents sent him to a Glasgow City Council summer school at the Kelvinhall.
During the week-long course, he discovered a love for the game and decided to commit himself full time to the sport.
Since turning professional aged 18, Alistair has balanced his training schedule with working full time to top up his funding pot.
Last year he sold McChuills Bar, on High Street, to get cash to support himself this year.
He also gains minimal funding from a club in Spain and has played for clubs in New Zealand and Australia.
During the past four years Alistair says he has spent more than £25,000 of his own money playing in two Super Series Events in China and Hong Kong.
He is the only Scot to have qualified for the men's singles in the 2009 Badminton World Federation World Championships and is ranked 69 in the world.
Anne Smillie, chief executive of Badminton Scotland, said: "The World Badminton Championships are not actually being supported by Badminton Scotland as they are not in our tournament programme.
"Alistair has elected to compete at his own expense and has not taken part in Scottish tournaments for as long as I can remember, although we have encouraged him to do so.
"Last year we invested £100,000 in supporting young badminton players and I wish Alistair all the best with future tournaments."
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