Coach takes issue over Sudirman order rumpus
(AFP)Updated: 2007-06-18 08:29
GLASGOW - Chinese coach Li Yongbo criticised the eleventh hour attempt by the Badminton World Federation to rejig the order of play in the Sudirman Cup final which his team won here Sunday.
 The Chinese Badmington team celebrates after winning the Sudirman World Badminton Team Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Chinese coach Li Yongbo criticised the eleventh hour attempt by the Badminton World Federation to rejig the order of play in the Sudirman Cup final which his team won here Sunday. [AFP] |
China raced off with their sixth final beating Indonesia 3-0 to rob spectators of the showdown between world champion Lin Dan and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, one of two 'dead' rubbers.
In the draw on Saturday night, the order was pulled out of a hat - a change to previous years - and the men's singles came out last. With China winning the first three rubbers, it meant that the last two did not need to be played.
Early Sunday championship director and the chief executive of Badminton Scotland, Anne Smillie, arranged a meeting between tournament referee Keith Hawthorne and the two team coaches to try and arrange a change the order.
But Li would not budge.
"It was most unfortunate," said Smillie, who could otherwise reflect on a hugely successful week.
'The draw was made late on Saturday night and I realise it would have been extremely difficult to change it on Sunday morning and maybe upset the players' mental state and their preparation for such an important match.
"But it was very disappointing. It was a fist class show and it would have
been brilliant for the spectators and the TV audience if there had been a
different order of play. It was the only hiccup, but one that mattered a great
deal."
But Li said he was also angered. 'I am not happy either," he said. "I don't think the BWF has shown any respect to the players or coaches. The casual attitude about draws is not very good."
Hawthorne also realized he had made a mistake. "On hindsight, we shouldn't have done it," he said.
'I have apologised to Anne Smillie and Badminton Scotland."
Previously, the order of play was decided between the two team managers - this time it was changed and pulled out of a hat from the semi-final stage.
But the schedule apart, Li was pleased with his team's display but critical of Lin, who had lost China's only rubber of the week, losing to Malaysia's Lee Chong Wie in the group matches.
"The mixed doubles and men's doubles were particularly pleasing and everything is shaping up well for the Olympics in Beijing next year," he said.
"But there was disappointment in Lin's performance.
"He should learn from the men's doubles. They showed spirit and determination. He has done that in the past, but not this week."
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