G
Guile
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May 26, 2010
Badminton players suspended
<!-- by line --> By Lee Min Kok
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Zhang had exhibited a poor attitude at training and tournaments and failed to comply with her coach's instructions on a number of occasions. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE BADMINTON ASSOCIATION
<!-- story content : start --> THE Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) has suspended two national shuttlers - women's singles player Zhang Beiwen and men's doubles specialist Hendra Wijaya - for three months. The move took effect from May 24. It comes barely three weeks ahead of the Li-Ning Singapore Open, the most prestigious badminton tournament on the local calendar this year, in which both players were entered.
According to the SBA, world No. 31 Zhang had exhibited a poor attitude at training and tournaments and failed to comply with her coach's instructions on a number of occasions. The 19-year-old China-born player has been suspended from training, selection trials and all tournaments. She will receive no salary for the duration of the suspension.
Hendra, 25, was punished because he was absent for three days without official approval earlier this month. He had apparently been warned by his coach for similar behaviour previously. However, the Indonesia-born shuttler, who with his brother Hendri Saputra form the Republic's top men's doubles pair, will still continue to train and receive half his salary. The SBA also said that both players' spots in the national team will be reviewed at the end of their suspensions.
