Chinese badminton player Yu Yang has claimed that she and her partner Wang Xiaoli were trying to conserve their energy in the doubles match against South Korean pair Jung Kyung-eun and Kim Ha-na.

Gail Emms tweeted that she thought that both nations were trying to lose in order to avoid facing their second doubles team in the next round, increasing chances of a medal.

However, Yang said that they were simply trying to preserve their energy, having already qualified from the group.

"Actually these opponents really were strong," Yang told Reuters. "This is the first time we've played them and tomorrow it's the knockout rounds, so we've already qualified and we wanted to have more energy for the knockout rounds.

"Really, it's not necessary to go out hard again when the knockout rounds are tomorrow."

According to Emms, the same situation is currently unfolding in South Korea's doubles game with Indonesia.