Brawl takes over badminton court
VANCOUVER — A fight broke out between two former badminton doubles partners from Thailand at the Canada Open over the weekend, prompting the Badminton World Federation to launch an investigation.
During a change of ends Sunday in the doubles final, Bodin Issara lunged at Maneepong Jongjit, chasing him onto a neighbouring court before punching him several times. Issara was dragged away and held down by coaches and tournament staff, while his partner, Pakkawat Vilailak, escorted a shirtless Jongjit off the court.
Issara, who needed two stitches, says Jongjit hit him with a badminton racket.
The pair had already received a warning from the referee following a verbal exchange.
Jongit and partner Nipitphon Puangpuapech, also from Thailand, were awarded the victory after Issara was shown a black card.
“The events surrounding the conclusion of this match will be thoroughly investigated by the BWF,” the federation said Monday in a statement. “The world governing body has procedures in place to deal with such situations and this matter will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.”
Jongjit and Issara were among the top-ranked badminton pairings and reached the quarter-finals at the 2012 Olympics. They split in January, when Issara retired to take care of his ailing mother, but was soon competing again with another partner.