The head coach of Japan¡¯s Olympic badminton team insists the gambling scandal that engulfed the sport three months ago will not cast a shadow over his squad at next month¡¯s Rio Games.
Japanese badminton was reluctantly thrust into the spotlight in April when star player Kento Momota ¡ª ranked No. 2 in the world ¡ª and teammate Kenichi Tago admitted to gambling at illegal casinos.
The 21-year-old Momota, who was expected to challenge for the men¡¯s singles gold medal in Rio, was subsequently thrown off the team, while Tago was indefinitely removed from the Nippon Badminton Association¡¯s official player list.
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