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Friday, 2 August, 2002, 20:57 GMT 21:57 UK
Robertson: I'm no cheat
Adam Robertson has hit out at accusations that he cheated in a bid to reach the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games men's doubles.
The Welshman was blasted by opponent Johnny Huang following a dubious line call in their doubles contest.
The 'Friendly Games' burst into a furious row when Huang stormed off court following what he considered a dubious call on Robertson's serve.
Huang later called Robertson a "cheat" and, along with Canadian coach Dejan Papic, claimed the umpires were favouring certain nations.
Robertson, who with team-mate Ryan Jenkins went on to take victory in the following semi-final against Singapore, hit back at Huang's accusations.
The Welsh number one said: "At the end of the day, it was the umpire's decision and, even though it unsettled me, you are a top sportsman so you just have to get on with the next game.
"But the one thing I am not is a cheat.
"You ask any of the players on the circuit and they will tell you I am a fair competitor. I just think he got a little excited."
Huang, though, has refused to back down on his stance.
The Canadian said: "He is a cheat - this is such a good tournament, yet I feel ashamed for him.
"I have been a professional player for a long time, now 15 years, and this is the first time this has happened to me.
"Any professional player - and it has happened hundreds and thousands of times - when there is something wrong then you make a call.
"He knows the ball was the wrong side of the line, yet he didn't call it. It went against the sport.
"Nobody in the world has done that to me yet in a big tournament like this, I am ashamed.
"Someone like him makes the sport worse. If he wants the medal that bad then he can have it."
Huang's charge was disputed by Robertson's coach and father, Barry, who said: "There was a lot of name-calling and swearing, which was totally unnecessary.
"For goodness sake, it was only one point to level the match score, it was not as if it was a match-deciding point.
"There are a lot of points which go against you in table tennis, you just have to get on with it. But he (Huang) is renowned as a bit of a hothead anyway."
Jenkins was clearly upset at the furore as he said: "Both Adam and I thought the ball was in, and we're honest players.
"What has happened is really upsetting and, even though it means we've now won a medal, it's taken the shine off it."
Huang had threatened to pull out of the men's singles, in which he is number one seed, but returned to the same court he had ironically walked off just 45 minutes earlier.
Huang, having calmed down, then took his place in the last 16 of the men's singles, in which he is number one seed, with an 11-4 11-4 11-9 11-4 victory over India's Subhajit Saha.
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