Badminton brawlers to face the music tomorrow
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A repentant Bodin Issara says he is eager to apologise and renew his friendship with Maneepong Jonjit following the attack on his former badminton partner in Vancouver, Canada on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Bodin arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday night, but on a different flight than the one taken by Maneepong. On Sunday, Bodin chased then punched and kicked his former partner as they faced each other on opposite sides of the net during the men’s doubles final at the Canadian Open. The attack is widely viewed as the most violent incident ever seen on the international badminton circuit.
The pony-tailed Bodin, still sporting the two stitches in his right ear to repair damage done by Maneepong’s racquet during the brawl, was mobbed by a media scrum as he made his way through the airport. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Maneepong was ushered to a different exit to escape the attentions of press.
“I have already sent him an apology through Line, but there has been no response,” Bodin told reporters, adding that he would have no problem shaking hands and reconciling with Maneepong if asked to do so at tomorrow’s Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) press conference.
The badminton body’s executive board will meet tomorrow to consider Bodin’s punishment for the attack, with a six-month ban reportedly the likely outcome.
“I would like to apologise for defaming the country’s image. Now I’m waiting for measures from both the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Association of Thailand against me. Then I will decide what to do next about my career,” said Bodin, who said he had seen Maneepong at the luggage carousel but had exchanged no words.
Maneepong told The Nation that he was not permitted to comment on the issue before tomorrow’s BAT press conference.
