Badminton: Olympics' Disgrace?

You might want to read THIS to get a picture of what I'll be talking about, first.

I've said before, in a previous entry, that the round-robins sound like a good system to test the players to see who's better. Last night, before the incident happened, I had thought that the system could lead to players trying to fix their games to play their desired opponent in the knock-out rounds. It happened, unfortunately, and I guess the round-robins really did allow the players to show who's better- in a way. 

Quarters: Top half: [A1 vs C2, B1 vs D2]; Bottom half: [A2 vs C1, B2 vs D1]
Until before finals: Koreans: Jung/Kim avoids Ha/Kim. Chinese: Wang/Yu avoids Tian/Zhao.

After all, it takes a lot of skills and consistency to do that. Not everyone's good enough to do match-fixing. You gotta be sure you can win the opponents you've chosen; you gotta be sure you and your fellow compatriot(s) are good enough to beat all remaining players on the draw, so both of you can meet in the finals; you gotta be sure of the risks; and even before all these, you gotta fight to be the top two of the draw, before even getting the chance to play match-fixing.

In a way, if you are good enough to do that, probably, you deserve that. In a way.

People are saying that this is a very un-Olympic spirit, and it is utterly unfair for the spectators who paid to watch the match (only to see a match-fixing 'show', in this case). I thought so too, but I did think that most countries would do the same- try to lose, in order to meet a more desired opponent- and I didn't think I'd blame them. I mean, when you can fix something to make things more favourable for your country, why not? Most people who are capable of doing so, might do so.

Besides, Yu Yang did have a point when she claimed they weren't playing their best because they wanted to preserve energy for the knock-out round the next day. They were already qualified, anyway. (Hmm, preserving energy? Fact or excuse- you decide.)

It seems China didn't quite fix their match in the men's doubles. Was it because they'll be placed
in the same half anyway? But having it like this, secures a spot for China in the semis.
Also, who knows what the Koreans might do, if Ko/Yoo in group B made it into the top two?

But, like the world is saying right now: that's so unsportsmanlike!

Badminton is a sport; not a game. Do you think strategical planning (like planning and fixing a match for one's own favour) should be part of a sport? If not, and sports should be about giving all your best, regardless of the outcome, then this is a total disgrace. If yes, and strategical planning shows that athletes, coaches and teams have skills in both competing and planning, then they completely displayed it in the matches last night. 

In fact, people must have known that such a situation could happen if the round-robin system was used. It's happened before (and I especially remember it happening in the 2008 Thomas Cup, where, apparently, according to news at the time, Korea match-fixed and made it into the finals). So if they knew this was a possible- highly possible- outcome, why still use the round-robin format?

Gail Emms said a lot about the incident. You might like to check it out on her official Twitter.

Perhaps, having round-robins in the early rounds, and have the players all participate in a draw to decide who they'll play in the quarter-finals might work? Like how it's been for the Thomas and Uber Cups since 2010. That way, it makes it round-robin, and less match-fixing probabilities(and less chances to preserve energy)- yes no?

But, like some people say- which I don't deny- "no matter how the system changes, if you want to fix a match, you'll always find a way". And I guess, we can't deny the fact that winning and/or losing a match in sports, nowadays, isn't merely about sports and skills. There could be so many other factors that are prompting players/coaches/teams, to do things- abiding the law or not- to get what they want. 

Politics? I don't know. I don't like it, but I guess it happens.

Beijing 2008 mixed doubles gold medallist Lee Yong Dae, and Ha Jung Eun,
didn't make it out of the round-robins, sadly.

Now, they're thinking of disqualifying the pairs involved in the incident, and allow the next pairs to play in the quarter-finals. Sounds legit- if it's decided that strategy planning shouldn't be part of the sport; but I must say it is unfortunate, that the top pairs are gone and other pairs who aren't as strong would be lucky and become an Olympic gold medallist much more easily (but yeah, luck is part of sports competition, anyway).

For me, I'll just wait and see what the outcome would be. I guess I'll be fine, either way, because I think both ends have their points. But it hurts, either way as well, because disqualifying means top class players(where two pairs out of four are my likings) would be out; and allowing them to continue somehow- in the public's eye- means that badminton in Olympics is not very Olympic-spirited.

What do you think?

But I guess I can't care too much. Let's just enjoy the joy and dramas at the Aquatics Centre:

Park Tae Hwan of Korea and Sun Yang of China both won silver medals at
the men's 200m freestyle as they finished their swim at the same time of 1:44.93.
Beautiful smile and handshake. I love!

Besides, I have an exam to prepare for. Korean intermediate exam this Saturday. Oh dear me.