Shuttlers told to play each match as last

Players, coaches and fans of China's badminton team expected the Olympics to be tough. They have not been disappointed.

Defending champions and medal hopefuls alike came to grief in the early stages of the competition at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.

Reigning women's doubles champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen of China were eliminated in the early going. Defending men's singles champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia and women's singles favorite Tine Rasmussen of Denmark were also knocked out.