Chinese shuttlers Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli lost in a suspicious way in women's doubles Tuesday evening at the Wembley Arena, which was hissed and booed by the crowd watching the competition.

Chinese shuttlers Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli (R) lost in a suspicious way in women's doubles Tuesday evening at the Wembley Arena.

The match started with the pair apparently out of form. Their rivals, Jung Kyung Eun and Kim Ha Na from South Korea didn't appear to be as aggressive as usual, but managed to score at least and won 21-14 and 21-11.

The match umpire called a halt at 14-10 in the first game after a series of serves into the net from both sides, and tournament referee talked to the pairs, but situation didn't seem to change.

Yu and Wang hit the net at least for three times during service, while the Korean missed their service many times as well by striking the shuttlecock directly out of the court.

The second game saw the four players continue lapsing and listlessly missing shots to the corners.

It was only after spectators began booing and whistling did they lash some smashes.

When the competition finished, they walked out of the arena in hoots of derision.

The competition was watched by Kang Young-Joong, president of the Badminton World Federation. But he didn't comment on the performances of these players.

Both pairs have already qualified at the top of group A and will meet pairs from group C in the quarterfinals, which contains another Korean pair.

Another Chinese pair in the event, Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, were beaten by Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen from Denmark and rank currently second in group D. Losing the match against the Korean might mean that both pairs will not meet until, if they are doing well, the final.

After the competition, Yu told journalists at the mixed zone that they were facing the Korean pair for the first time and they were very strong. "We will be playing in the quarter-final tomorrow and we were conserving energy for that."

"We do want to perform well for spectators and we know this is not good, but we are professional players and we need good results," she said. Talking about their opponents, she added, "I have no idea why they were playing in that way."

Kim Moon Soo, the Korean coach, said "there is nothing much to say. I think the Chinese broke the Olympic spirit because they started missing their service."

David Wakefield, a British spectator, believed the lackluster play "unacceptable".

"This is below international standard, even the training standard," he told Xinhua. "It is unfair for other players." If they were playing this way, players from team GB would have chance to win, he added.

His friend Chris Wanless was dissatisfied with attitude of the players and was curious to know the reason. "Was it because of too much pressure?" he asked. "I saw the referee talking with them. Maybe he was just telling them to ignore the crowd."

"China is a kind nation with great sport spirit," he said. He has supported many Chinese players like the 16-year-old Ye Shiwen, who chopped more than a second off the world record to win the women's 400m individual medley on Saturday.

"China should be an inspiration for the rest of the world," he said, noting that Chinese athletes should do as role models.

In comparison, Chinese audiences showed more understanding.

A girl who declined to be named flew over from Beijing to watch especially the badminton matches. She said she has bought tickets from the start to the final.

"I noticed that both sides were not in the shape and I was kind of worried," she said. "Are they injured? I hope they are OK and I am looking forward to see them playing in the following days."

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