- Title: THAILAND: BADMINTON -Thai badminton stars shake hands after on-court punch up
- Date: 27th July 2013
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (JULY 27, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THAILAND BADMINTON ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS IN BANGKOK WITH MEDIA WAITING THAI BADMINTON PLAYERS BODIN ISSARA (LEFT) AND MANEEPONG JONGJIT AT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH HANDS CLASP TOGETHER - "WAI" GESTURE OF REVERENCE / PAIR SHAKING HANDS IN RECONCILIATION CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI BADMINTON PLAYER BODIN ISSARA SAYING: "I apologise to Ae (Maneepong's nickname), I apologise to our chairman and secretary, and I apologise to everyone in our Badminton association and Thai fans for giving Thailand a bad name." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI BADMINTON PLAYER MANEEPONG JONJIT SAYING: "I apologise to the Thai people and people associated with badminton - the WBF (World Badminton Federation) and Badminton Canada. I had part to play in ruining the good name of our country. So I bow to apologise." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BADMINTON ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND CHAIRMAN CHAROEN WATTANASIN SAYING: "I was badminton player myself for 58 years, I have spent more than six decades associated with badminton. But I've never seen a fight so severe and scary like this brawl before." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BADMINTON ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND CHAIRMAN CHAROEN WATTANASIN SAYING: "This single incident has almost ruined our reputation overnight. We will not punish the two with anger or hatred and neither in retaliation for what they've done. The level of punishment will not only be based on their behaviour. The punishment will not only be based on how badly they damaged the image of the badminton association, but it will be based on how much they damaged the image of Thailand as a whole country." ISSARA AND JONGJIT SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 11th August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- City:
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAENUBD9DH7UF7IG8Q84AJGP3GA
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- Story Text: The two Thai badminton players involved in an on court punch-up during last weekend's Canada Open in Vancouver expressed regret on Saturday (July 27), apologising to each other and the federation and country they represent.
One the same day, media reports in Bangkok said Bodin Issara had been suspended by his club Granular until the end of the year after he and former doubles partner Maneepong Jongjit were involved in an ugly brawl during a game where the two were on opposite sides.
The trouble broke out in the tie between the two Thai pairs after Maneepong and Nipitphon Puangpuapech bagged the first game. At the change of ends Maneepong hit Bodin with his racquet following a heated verbal exchange.
Bodin retaliated by chasing down Maneepong to a neighbouring court and rugby-tackled him to the ground before punching him several times, incurring a disqualification.
The pair had previously issued video apologies but after shaking hands for the cameras at a news conference in the Thai capital on Saturday, Issara cut a remorseful figure.
"I apologise to Ae (Maneepong's nickname), I apologise to our chairman and secretary, and I apologise to everyone in our Badminton association and Thai fans for giving Thailand a bad name," Issara told reporters.
"I apologise to the Thai people and people associated with badminton - the BWF (Badminton World Federation) and Badminton Canada. I had part to play in ruining the good name of our country. So I bow to apologise," responded Jongjit..
The (BWF) have charged both Bodin and Maneepong for the fight, the video of which has got over 470,000 hits on Youtube.
Bodin faces a six-month ban from the Badminton Association of Thailand, local media in Thailand speculated.
Badminton Association of Thailand Chairman Charoen Wattanasin said he had been shocked by the incident.
"I was badminton player myself for 58 years, I have spent more than six decades associated with badminton. But I've never seen a fight so severe and scary like this brawl before," he said, before adding any further sanction would take into account many things surrounding the duo.
"This single incident has almost ruined our reputation overnight," Wattanasin explained.
"We will not punish the two with anger or hatred and neither in retaliation for what they've done. The level of punishment will not only be based on their behaviour. The punishment will not only be based on how badly they damaged the image of the badminton association, but it will be based on how much they damaged the image of Thailand as a whole country."
In a letter to the BWF, Granular's club president Jane Piyatat apologised for the incident and said Bodin had been suspended without pay until the end of the year, the Bangkok Post reported.
"We would like to apologise to the BWF, Badminton Canada, sponsors and fans for the embarrassing incident," Jane wrote in the letter, according to the report. "Please do accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience you may have experienced.
"We have taken steps to ensure that Mr Bodin and his behaviour will become an important lesson for himself and other players. We have decided to suspend him from all domestic and overseas competitions for the rest of 2013.
"During the period, he will not receive salary and other benefits from the club. He will also coach junior players as a community service." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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