Badminton World Federation decides to stand firmly against match-fixing and betting
Badminton has been respected as one of the corruption free sports but now it seems that this evil has plagued this game also as the Badminton World Federation (BWF) takes some preventive measures and decides to stand firmly against the evils of match-fixing
and betting.
The All England Open tournament referee has officially warned the contesting countries by holding a meeting with the managers of all teams.
The chief coach of Japanese badminton team Park Joo-bong disclosed the details and told that the tournament referee has cautioned them about the rumours of shuttlers being involved in match-fixing and betting and BWF is taking it seriously.
Joo-bong said, “Maybe, BWF have heard the rumours because the referee told us to take a strong message back to the players that they are being watched. He told us that bans would be meted out on anyone caught fixing matches.”
In the recent past, some countries like China have also harmed the true spirit of game, just to support their weak players, either by asking their strong players to lose or to withdraw from the game.
BWF is now on high alert to save the true spirit of badminton and for the first time such matches will be under observation to nip the evils like match-fixing and betting in bud.
The Japan head coach Joo-bong said, “In fact, the referee also informed us that some matches during the All-England, especially those involving players from the same country, would be recorded and analysed for any evidence of match-fixing.”
The Korean doubles legend Park Joo-bong, who is currently coaching the Japanese shuttlers, was distressed at the situation as constantly there have been rumours about some Asian countries of being involved in corruption.
He said, “I hear that some Asian countries are involved. But I hope these are only rumours and there is no truth in it because this can destroy the sport.”
Joo-bong was confident that the Korea is not among those Asian countries but he looked sad as he was part of that golden corruption free era with his compatriot Kim Moon-soo when they bagged the Olympic and World titles for Korea.
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