Taiwan taekwondo athlete in Asian Games sock sensor row
Baku, November 17 (AZERTAC). A Taiwanese taekwondo competitor at the Asian Games has been disqualified after illegal extra electronic sensors were found in her socks.
The sensors detect when competitors score points by landing kicks and punches on their opponent`s body.
Additional sensors could make point-scoring easier.
Yang Shu-chun had been one of the favourites for the gold medal and says she is innocent. A Taiwan official said her disqualification was "unfair".
The use of electronic sensors in the fighters` socks was introduced to make judging more transparent.
But it seems Yang Shu-chun of Taiwan attempted to give herself an added advantage by installing one extra sensor in each sock.
At a pre-match inspection officials at the Asian Games in China asked her to remove the illegal sensors.
When it became clear she had ignored the request, the fight for a place in the quarter-finals of the under 49kg (108lb) division was stopped.
Yang Shu-chun was disqualified. She was leading by -0.
She and her coach protested her innocence and both refused to leave the competition area.
Taiwan`s top sports body voiced its concern over the disqualification.
"The technical committee did not allow Taiwan`s team a chance to explain before making the decision and we regret the unfair ruling," said the Sports Affairs Council.
It was the first major judging controversy at the Asian Games which is taking place in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
Other news in this section
