Shinta stretches to return the shuttle while teammate Yao Lei looks on. The Singapore pair were the top seed but they lost the final. (Photo 1 courtesy of CWG/SSC)
India, Thursday, October 14, 2010 — Singapore’s Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari fell at the final hurdle when they lost the women’s doubles gold to India’s Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa Machimanda. The Singapore pair were the top seed in the tournament and had beaten the same opponents twice before this year. However, in front of a partisan Indian crowd and rattled by a controversial umpiring call, Yao Lei and Shinta succumbed 16-21, 19-21.
The Singapore pair felt particularly aggrieved that the English umpire did not replay the point when the match was tied 18-18 in the second set. Shinta had raised her hand to indicate that she was not ready to receive the serve but Jwala went ahead. Shinta and Yao Lei contested the point and play was held up for five minutes. Despite their protest, the English umpire Ian Spear still gave the point.
Although the girls tied it up at 19-19, they went on to lose the second set 21-19. Visibly upset and in tears, Yao Lei broke her racket when she smashed in on the ground. The Singapore pair walked off without shaking hands and did not attend the post match conference.
The shuttlers were looking for Singapore’s first badminton gold since the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Then, Li Li had upset favourite Tracey Hallam to win the singles gold in Manchester.
Singapore shuttlers ended the games with a total of one silver and two bronze medals. Chayut Triyachart and Yao Lei secured a bronze in the mixed doubles while brothers Hendra Wijaya and Hendri Kurniawan Saputra won another bronze in the men’s doubles.
Shinta argues with the umpire on the contentious call at 18-18 while her teammate Yao Lei looks on. The umpire Ian Spear was unmoved and gave the Indian pair the point. (Photo 2 courtesy of CWG/SSC)
Shinta is in tears while Yao Lei receives a consoling hug from coach Eng Hian. Looking on in support is team manager Chua Yong Joo. (Photo 3 courtesy of CWG/SSC)
Brothers Hendra (left) and Hendri won a bronze in the doubles event after beating fellow Singaporean pair of Derek Wong and Chayut Triyachart 2-0 (23-21, 21-12). (Photo 4 courtesy of CWG/SSC)
Yao Lei (left) and Chayut Triyachart show off their mixed doubles bronze medal which they won after defeating the Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying 2-1 (21-14, 17-21, 21-17). (Photo 5 courtesy of CWG/SSC)
Women’s Doubles Gold Medal Match – Detailed Results
Men’s Doubles Bronze Medal Match – Detailed Results
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