S. Korean badminton head coach issues first public apology since match-throwing scandal

The head of South Korea's disgraced badminton delegation issued his first public apology Friday over his players' connection to controversial match-throwing attempts at the London Olympics.

"I deeply apologize for tainting the honor of Korea," Sung Han-kook, the badminton head coach, told reporters at Wembley Arena, the venue for badminton matches. "I recognize my failure to live up to the responsibility as the head coach to properly manage the athletes."

Sung's apology came two days after two South Korean female doubles pairs -- Jung Kyung-eun and Kim Ha-na, and Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min-jung -- were tossed from the Olympics, along with a Chinese and an Indonesian team, for apparently trying to purposely lose matches Tuesday to manipulate their knockout stage draw. The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) has since sent home the four players plus their assistant coach, Kim Moon-soo, for their involvement.

Sung has so far escaped punishment. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Thursday it wants team coaches or even trainers to be disciplined, along with athletes, if they encouraged or ordered players to lose on purpose. The KOC officials said they would seek to determine the exact extent of Sung's role after the Olympics are over.

Sung had previously blamed China for starting the match-throwing scandal and forcing South Korea to follow suit. The world No. 1 team, Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China, allegedly lost on purpose to Kim and Jung because they wanted to avoid facing another Chinese team, Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, until the final.

Ha and Kim later went on to lose their match to ensure they'd be on the opposite side of the bracket from Kim and Jung.

But on Friday, Sung said he no longer wanted to make excuses.

"Any explanation over why our players didn't give 100 percent will be an excuse," Sung said. "I must bear full responsibility over this scandal."

Men's singles player, Lee Hyun-il, and the men's doubles team of Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung are still competing in the tournament here. (Yonhap News)