In an apparent disagreement between Ban Thong Yord (BTY) and the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT), all BTY players including Ratchanok conceded walkover to opponents in the ongoing 2013 SCG All Thailand Tournament. In this 50+year old tournament, players play for the King's cups and the titles of Champions of Thailand. Stay tuned.
For Ratchanok, she annouced earlier that she wont participate in this tournament. But for others, it looks like they just made this decision today.
It surely has something to do with money. On the same day as the BTY walkovers, the Ministry of Sport handed 2 million Bahts to Ratchanok, 200,000 Bahts to her Chinese coach, and 300,000 Bahts to BAT as rewards. BTY may have resented BAT getting the money that should be given to BTY. On the other hand BAT may have resented the Chinese coach getting the money that should be given to BAT. It should be noted that no BAT coach was with Ratchanok during the WC.
According to some newspapers (and facebook ), athletes from BTY just withdraw based on their individual reasons. There are still other BTY players compete in All Thailand Championships. - Ratchanok officially announced since came back from WC that she won't participate in this tournament - Pisit withdraw because he still injured since university game (still has to visit hospital for physical therapy) - Thongpon withdraw because of his injury (he also withdraw from WC 2013) - Naritsapat Lam & Sawitree withdraw for prepartion for China Master (Nasitsapat Lam injured her wrist, may have to withdraw from China Master) - Patarasuda has back injured Other BTY players are still playing - Kittipon (MS, lost) - Peerapong (MD, won) - Matanee (WD, lost) From what I known, Bantongyord never had any big conflicts with BAT before and I wish they won't have conflict in the future as well.
Maybe because well known BTY players are all withdraw, and medias dont know other BTY new players, so they thought all BTY players are all withdraw.
I honestly thought that all BTY players withdrew, at the time of my first posting. Anyhow all high-powered BTY players withdrew. I hope that there is no major conflict, but where there is smoke, there is fire.
I wholeheartedly hope that you and Sophony are correct. Thailand can ill-afford this so soon after our first success ever.
Seems no signs of MD competition from this video? [video=youtube;CUPv8LzUNtg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUPv8LzUNtg[/video]