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Organizers clear the air to cool row
Print Edition
FIERCE air conditioning remained at the center of controversy in Asian Games badminton yesterday but organizers rejected Chinese claims that it had been manipulated to help the South Korean host.
Tournament managers also said no official protest had been made over conditions at the Gyeyang Gymnasium, despite claims by China’s coach Li Yongbo.
Li blamed “man-made reasons” for Wednesday’s 2-3 defeat to South Korea in the men’s team final, Chinese media reported.
“We did not lose because of technique or tactics, but due to some man-made reasons. The South Koreans deliberately controlled the wind blow in the stadium and took advantage of it,” Li was quoted as saying.
“When we played with tailwind, the wind was very strong, but when the wind was behind them, they shut down the air conditioning. Before the Games opened, they had been training in this stadium for 15 days, so they are more familiar with the stadium than us.”
Tournament events manager, Chooi Weng Sheng of the Badminton Asia Confederation, said there was no evidence of foul play. “We have never received any official complaint from them or from the players.”
“There’s no evidence it happened,” the Malaysian said.
Chooi said the match referee would have noticed “a drastic change in the temperature of the hall” and technical staff receive an hourly reading of temperature and humidity.
Officials have acknowledged that the air conditioning is strong and several players have said the venue’s air system blows shuttlecocks off-course.
Japanese coach Keita Masuda, whose team lost to South Korea in the quarterfinals, was quoted as saying: “The wind in this stadium is very strange, always supporting the host.”
Chooi, however, said that Japan had not protested.
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