SINGAPORE: A large-scale withdrawal on the eve of competition has robbed badminton’s Singapore Open of several seeded players after superstars Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei also chose to skip the event.
Eleven players pulled out on Monday, citing fatigue and injury, though many may be keen to avoid exerting themselves in what is the last Super Series event before the world championships in August.
Players who withdraw late from tournaments receive a small fine from the Badminton World Federation, according to reports. Singapore experienced similar problems last year in the run-up to the London Olympics.
With Olympic champion Lin and world number one Lee opting out, and former Olympic gold-medallist Taufik Hidayat retiring from the sport at last week’s Indonesian Open, star power will be in short supply at the $200,000 tournament.
Men’s third seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro was among the late pull-outs, as well as women’s doubles top seeds Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang, the Chinese pair who were among eight players disqualified from last year’s Olympics for not trying.
The last-minute withdrawals also include China’s mixed doubles top seeds Xu Chen and Ma Jin, and women’s singles fifth seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand.
“Some players may need a break after playing other tournaments back to back,” said India’s Saina Nehwal, the women’s second seed.
“And with the world championships in Guangzhou just a month-and-a-half away, you have to prepare well. You should do what’s best for yourself. You don’t want to push yourself too hard and get injured. So it’s better to check your body and see how you feel.”
Singapore badminton chief Bobby Lee put a brave face on the no-shows, saying ticket sales remained strong. But he said next year’s event will be held earlier in the year in an effort to draw a stronger field.
China’s Du Pengyu, shocked by Indonesian unknown Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in Jakarta last week, is the men’s top seed, while Olympic champion Li Xuerui leads the women’s seedings.
South Korea asks North to attend 2014 Asian Games
SEOUL: South Korea has invited North Korea to attend next year’s Asian Games in Incheon and expects its communist neighbour to appear at the multi-sports event, an official from Seoul’s sports ministry said yesterday.
North Korea attended the 2002 Asian Games in Busan but boycotted the 1986 Games in Seoul, as well as the 1988 Olympics in the South’s capital.
The 1950-53 conflict between the two countries ended in an armistice rather than a permanent peace treaty. Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang are tense and talks aimed at mending ties were recently called off.
“We have requested the participation of North Korea at the Incheon Asian Games through the OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) a couple of months ago,” Park Jong-gil, a vice minister at the culture, sports and tourism ministry, told reporters.
Earlier this year, North Korea threatened nuclear and missile strikes against the South and the United States after it was hit with UN sanctions for a nuclear weapons test in February.
North Korea’s 30-year-old leader, Kim Jong-un, took power in December 2011 and has since carried out two long-range rocket launches and a nuclear weapons test, as well as a campaign of threats against South Korea and the United States.
Threats have waned in the past month, showing signs of easing tensions such as proposing talks with South Korea in early June.
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