Zhang, Hendra banned for 3 months

SINGAPORE - Singaporean shuttlers Zhang Beiwen and Hendra Wijaya will miss the Li-Ning Singapore Open Super Series 2010 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from June 15 to 20. ​

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Hendra had been absent from training for three days without approval earlier this month. AFP


The duo have been suspended by the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) for three months each, starting from May 24, for various disciplinary issues.

Currently No 31 in the world - Singapore's highest ranked women's singles player - Zhang was punished for her poor attitude at training and during tournaments, and for failing to carry out instructions from her coach.

The 19-year-old full-time player, who won a team bronze at last year's SEA Games in Laos, will also not receive any salary for the duration of the suspension. She will not be allowed to train with the national team, attend selection trials and tournaments until the ban is lifted.

Men's doubles and mixed-doubles player Hendra was expected to pair Hendri Saputra and Shinta Mulia Sari, respectively, at the Singapore Open, but will also miss the US$200,000 ($281,400) super series event due to his suspension.

According to the SBA, the 24-year-old had been absent from training for three days without approval earlier this month and will be suspended from some selection trials and competitions. His salary will be docked by 50 per cent, but he will be allowed to continue training with the national team.

Trials for the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in New Delhi from Oct 3 to 14, are currently ongoing and as a result of her suspension, Zhang will miss out.

Hendra will be allowed to attend trials for Commonwealth Games, but his position will be up for review.

Responding to MediaCorp's queries yesterday, SBA chief executive officer Edwin Pang said: "The SBA felt the consequences and impact of Beiwen's acts of ill discipline warranted a heavier penalty (than Hendra). She undermined her coach's authority, was disruptive at training, affected the morale of the team, set a bad example to the junior players and cast the national team in bad light."

The China-born firebrand has had issues with the SBA in the past, having left the national team in April 2008 due to disagreements with former women's singles chief coach, Wang Junjie.

Zhang, who was part of the mixed team that won a bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior Championships, returned to training seven months later.

With the retirement of national players Ronald Susilo, Kendrick Lee, Jiang Yanmei and Li Yujia, Singapore badminton's target of a medal at the Commonwealth Games could now be in jeopardy. But the SBA are standing by their decision.

"SBA would like to send a clear message that acts of ill discipline by our players, which adversely affect our national team, will not be tolerated regardless of how highly ranked the players are or how potentially valuable they might be to our chances of doing well in major tournaments," said Pang, who revealed that SBA staff, committee members, family members, guardians and coaches have pitched in to counsel the errant duo. "We hope these errant players will learn their lesson from this episode."

Both shuttlers' spots in the national teams will be subject to review after the three-month suspension.

Source: Todayonline

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