Danish shuttlers allege match-fixing offers
KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton’s governing body has asked police to investigate claims by world No 9, Hans-kristian Vittinghus, and another Dane that they were approached to throw matches.
Badminton World Federation (BWF) president Poul-erik Hoyer told the Danish Broadcasting Corporation that the case was the “biggest” he could remember.
Vittinghus and doubles player Kim Astrup told the broadcaster that they received offers to their Facebook accounts by a Malaysian man, who said he had previously fixed matches in the Singapore Open and the Thomas Cup.
“I was never in doubt that the Badminton World Federation should be notified immediately, and today I’m happy that we had him reported,” Vittinghus said.
Astrup, who said he was offered between 2,500 and 3,000 euros ($3,200 and $3,800) in addition to being able to bet on his own game, added he was “not surprised” match-fixing took place in badminton.
KAYMER GRABS TWO-SHOT LEAD SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA: US Open champion Martin Kaymer took advantage of benign scoring conditions to grab a two-shot lead over Bubba Watson after Tuesday’s opening round of the four-man PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.
After a red-hot start that included three birdies and an eagle in his first seven holes, the German mixed two birdies with a bogey on his back nine for a sixunder 65 at the Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton.
“The back nine, that’s definitely more challenging than the front nine,” said Kaymer, who coasted to his second major win by eight shots at the US Open in June.