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National Games plagued by scandal

By Gao Qihui | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2013-09-04 16:43

Just a few days after the opening ceremony of the biggest sporting event in the country, the China's 12th National Games has been plagued by scandal. The athlete's performance is just one of the smears to hit the games, troubled by problems for months.

Violence

National Games plagued by scandal

Two swimmers get into a tussle during the women's 10-km swimming marathon at the 12th National Games on Sept 2 in Fushun city.

The two swimmers failed to finish the heat. Other physical conflicts frequently happened during the event, with some believing the fights were part of a team's strategy.

One team leader even defended the fighting saying that "it is quite normal to see some tussles during the open water event, as all swimmers will struggle for a good position." "It is not a fight."

Even the awarding ceremony of the event was delayed due to a number of post-game appeals for physical conflict.

National Games plagued by scandal

The neglected women's rugby event unexpectedly drew wide public attention not thanks to the competition, but due to two dramatic scenarios: throwing a match by one side and coach fights.

During the final game, Beijing women's rugby team threw its match with Shandong on Tuesday, losing 71-0. The team gave up defending, after falling behind 15-0 in the latter half, to express their anger after they claim two players were fouled.

The drama did not end until the two teams' coaches including a foreign one, escalated into a fist fight from a verbal dispute.

Embarrassing faults

National Games plagued by scandal

Olympic double women's diving champion He Zi, a was found to be only 135 cm tall and weigh 30 kg, according to her profile on the official website of the 12th National Games. A statement was issued on the website which attributed the mistake to the negligence.

The distorted information was reportedly an accident, but a sex change registration of a male basketball player is planned by Fujian team.

National Games plagued by scandal

The player's card of Wang Zhelin, a male basketball player representing Fujian province, shows he has registered as a female basketball player under 18. The intended fraud was aimed to qualify Wang - whose team has been knocked out of the games - to be a flag bearer during the opening ceremony as the 214cm-tall guy can raise the "height" of the Fujian team.

Li Na's tennis trouble

The French Open champion Li Na eventually helped her home tennis team of Hubei province in the 12th National Games.

Li had publically made it clear as early as the beginning of the year that she will not participate in the 12th National Games, but her name was still found in the player list of Hubei team in June when the tennis events started.

However, the team's move didn't astonish others in China's tennis circle, as they knew the name of Li Na itself can help tag Hubei as a seed team due to Li's high rank in WTA, a smart way to avoid tough opponents in the first rounds.

Of course, Li didn't show up in the games, but Hubei has gotten what it can get from Li's absence.

After the tennis events started, the events was slammed for a lack of audience and no standing seats were installed in 14 of the total 16 courts.

Off the court, the customized food unfortunately was blasted for lacking meat. A player broadcasted his discontent on Sina Weibo complaining "they are feeding rabbits everday, who can eat his fill?"

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