Controversies from the London Olympics - Part 1

No event is complete without controversies. Naturally, you do expect controversies from games like Olympics but nobody expects them within 4 days.

This Olympics there has been controversies galore – we have had a strange women walking in the parade, unfair results and even equipment malfunctioning.

Let us take a look at the top 5 controversies of the London Olympics so far.

Ukraine denied a medal after Japan’s appeal

In the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s team finals, China repeated their 2008 effort by winning gold. The silver initially went to Great Britain who won their first team Olympics medal since 1912. The third place went to Ukraine.

Japan protesting with the officials

But, after the scores were announced, Japan appealed an inquiry for their three-time world champion Uchimura’s score. After consideration, the appeal was accepted and their scores were revised giving them a silver medal, pushing Great Britain to third and stripping Ukraine of a medal.

The Brits gathered in the stadium were shocked by the decision and boos were heard across the stadium.

South Korean flag displayed during North Korea’s game

Hours before North Korea women’s soccer game against Columbia, player introductions were displayed on the giant screen at Hampden Park, Scotland.

South Korea’s flag along with North Korean Athletes

When everyone were looking at the screen, they realized that it was in fact South Korea’s national flag that was displayed along with the details of North Korean Soccer players.

The tension between the two countries is well known and this incident surely should have fueled it. North Korean players were visibly upset with the decision and refused the take the field for more than an hour. After great chaos, the match finally took place. The event’s organizers left out a “full and unreserved apology” to the officials of the North Korean soccer team.

Sumit Sangwan‘s controversial result

Sumit Sangwan began his round of 32 bout superbly but still, he was left trailing by a point at the end of the first round. Despite that, Sumit kept sending in deadly punches one after another in the second round and still, lost the round 4-5. Everyone in the stadium were surprised by what they were seeing.

Sangwan – Lost Indian Hope?

Sangwan took the third round 6-5 but was unfairly treated by the officials and lost the match. ESPN who were covering the match called the result a “daylight robbery”

An official complaint has been filed regarding this issue and let us hope that justice is done.

South Korean fencer loses due to equipment malfunctioning

In the semi-finals of the Women’s fencing competition on Monday, South Korea’s Lam Shin lost 5-6 to Germany’s Britta Heidemann.

Shin breaks down after the result

But, towards the end of the match, it was found that the timing equipment had stopped working giving the German extra time to score a point. The decision left Shin in tears and the South Korean team filed an appeal but they forgot to include the payment with it prompting the faulty decision to stay.

If the result had stayed 5-5, Shin would have advanced to the finals. At this era and at this stage, you certainly do not expect malfunctioning instruments determining the fate of athletes.

16 year old Chinese girl swims faster than Ryan Lochte

On July 30, Ye Shiwen, the 16 year old Chinese Swimmer won gold in the 400 m individual medley breaking the world record. What is more fascinating is how she did that.

Ye Shiwen after finishing her race

She broke the existing world record by more than a second, she defeated the second placed Elizabeth Beisel by more than three seconds. Even more fascinating is the fact that her last 50m were faster than Ryan Lochte’s last fifty when he won the Men’s 400 m gold two days back.

Just as the news of this record broke, rumors suggesting doping surfaced. Given China’s tainted history when it comes to Swimming, people began suggesting that Ye Shiwen was in fact consuming drugs. BBC’s reporter dared enough to comment ‘How many questions will there be, about somebody who can suddenly swim so much faster than she has ever swum before?’

Chinese officials however, dismissed all these reports. Nothing looks concrete so far suggesting any malpractice from the Chinese girl. She might on all possibilities be a “superwoman”.

Mystery women walks along with Indian Athletes

Most of us watching the Olympics parade were confused when we saw a strange woman in blue and red very near to our flag-bearer Sushil Kumar.

Madhura Honey alongside Sushil Kumar

At first, we thought that it was an official but later it was disclosed that she was in fact a complete stranger who gatecrashed the parade. India’s chef de mission PKM Raja declared that the Women had “embarrassed us in front of the world”.

“We don’t know who she is and why she was allowed to walk in. The march past is for the athletes and officials attached to the contingent,” Raja said.

“We are totally surprised by the manner in which she joined the delegation and kept walking inside the stadium.”

“This was bizarre. We will ask for an apology,” added Raja

Now, it has been confirmed that the Woman’s name is Madhura Honey and she lives in England. After the controversy began, she has deactivated her Facebook account.

Pictures of her walking in the moon and being present in Obama’s swearing in ceremony are now trolling in the internet.