We hope to make it to quarters: Ashwini Ponnappa
Contrary to widespread belief that their appeal has been rejected, India's ace doubles shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa hopes she and Jwala Gutta would make it to the quarterfinals of the women's badminton event after four pairs were disqualified from the London Olympics on Wednesday for "not using one's best efforts to win a match".
Contrary to widespread belief that their appeal has been rejected, India's ace doubles shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa hopes she and Jwala Gutta would make it to the quarterfinals of the women's badminton event after four pairs were disqualified from the London Olympics on Wednesday for "not using one's best efforts to win a match".
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"We are not sure what the scenario is right now. We are waiting for the decision and we hope to make it to the quarters. As far as I know, the officials are discussing the issue and we will get to know in some time," Ashwini told IANS on the phone from London.
"We have given our best and that is all we could do," she added.
The meeting of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) is currently underway at the Wembley Arena, the venue for the badminton event.
The suspended pairs are: Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China; Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari of Indonesia; Jung Kyung Eun and Kim Ha Na of South Korea; and Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung, also of South Korea.
However, they are not from Group B, of which the Jwala and Ashwini were a part of. The Indians finished third in their group.
Ashwini said they had won more matches than the other teams who are in contention for moving to the quarters.
London Olympics chief organiser Sebastian Coe described the incidents as "depressing", saying "who wants to sit through something like that".
International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said that such incidents were "not acceptable".