Chinese badminton coach blames referee for player's injury
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E-mail Xinhua, August 5, 2012
Chinese badminton head coach Li Yongbo accused Danish referee Torsten Berg of causing injury to player Wang Xin on Saturday.
"When Wang asked the referee to have the sweat on the floor wiped clean, he refused, and that was why she slipped and injured herself," Li said to Xinhua.
"It was ridiculous. A player who takes time to wipe off the sweat on the face could be suspected of intentionally delaying the match. But when there is sweat on the floor, the referee should have it wiped off or allow the player to clean the floor."
Wang withdrew from the bronze medal match against India's Saina Nehwal after winning a game already.
"I slipped when I was trying to return a net shot," Wang said.
China's team doctor Li Quanyi said Xin was in a lot of pain with suspected ligament damage. "It was a new injury, something to do with the sweat on the court when she slipped."
Xin was sent to a hospital to receive nuclear magnetic resonance test. The result was not yet known.
Li said he had no intention to appeal. "It was an accident," he said. "But the injury was serious, otherwise she wouldn't have given up."
China has bagged both gold medals in women's doubles and singles. Li was apparently happy with the result.
"Li Xuerui and Wang Yihan are both outstanding players, who brought the audience the best performances," he said. "Li Xuerui did better, but Wang should also be recognized for her victory over Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal yesterday."
From the match on Saturday, Li pointed out that people could see how exhausted the players were after the battle.
"Chinese shuttlers, while playing against each other, could easily reach the limit of their stamina, as they are at the top level and the competition was fierce."
"That is why I don't want to see them facing each other before the final," said Li.
Top-seeded Chinese pair Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang were disqualified from the quarterfinals by the World Badminton Federation for "playing to lose".
"Under such circumstances (the disqualification of the top Chinese pair), their teammates Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei were under tremendous pressure, but they succeeded today, winning honor for the Chinese badminton team, and for Yu and Wang as well."
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