Update On The Latest In Olympic Sports

Badminton scandal

LONDON (AP) - The Badminton World Federation has confirmed that 4 women's doubles pairs have been disqualified from the Olympics after trying to lose matches to receive a more favorable place in the field.

The eight disqualified players are two from China, four from South Korea and two from Indonesia.

The players went before a disciplinary hearing today, a day after spectators at the arena booed their performance after it became clear they were deliberately trying to lose.

Indonesia's Olympic team leader, Erick Thohir, first confirmed the report with The Associated Press and said that Indonesia will appeal.

CYCLING

Gold for Armstrong

HAMPTON COURT, England (AP) - Cyclist Kristin Armstrong of the United States won her second straight Olympic time trial gold medal. The former two-time world champion covered the 18-mile course south of London in 37 minutes, 34.82 seconds, beating silver medalist Judith Arndt of Germany by more than 15 seconds.

The 38-year-old Armstrong briefly retired after her triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to start a family. But after delivering a son in 2010, she hopped back on the bike, with the London Games her primary focus.

ROWING

U.S. lands bronze

WINDSOR, England (AP) - The U.S. women's quadruple skull team claimed a bronze medal today in the rowing competition. The team of Natalie Dell, Megan Kallmoe, Kara Kohler and Andrienne Martelli finished behind the winning boat from Ukraine.

SWIMMING

Franklin, Phelps and Lochte advance

LONDON (AP) - In preliminary swimming action this morning, American Missy Franklin qualified for this evening's semifinals in the women's 100-freestyle, and Michael Phelps opened defense of his title in the 200-meter individual medley, hours after becoming the most decorated Olympian ever with his 19th career medal.

Phelps' time of 1 minute, 58.24 seconds was good for the fourth-fastest time in the preliminaries. Teammate Ryan Lochte (LAHK'-tee) was second-quickest at 1:58.03. The 200 IM final is Thursday.

TENNIS

Serena Williams and Roger Federer advance

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Serena Williams hit 12 aces and repeatedly rocketed groundstrokes past Vera Zvonareva (zvahn-uh-RAY'-vuh) to win 6-1, 6-0 and reach the Olympic quarterfinals. Williams hit 32 winners to three for the Russian, who also lost when they met in the 2010 Wimbledon final.

Williams has lost only 10 games through three rounds. The third-time Olympian is the winner of two gold medals in doubles and 14 major titles, but she has yet to win a singles medal.

Roger Federer has advanced to the quarterfinals as well. Federer is playing in his first tournament since winning a record-tying seventh Wimbledon title.

BRITISH GOLD

Host nation wins first gold

WINDSOR, England (AP) - The host country has won its first gold medal. The big win came in women's pair rowing as Heather Stanning and Helen Glover finished first.

LONDON (AP) - In other competition on tap today:

- There are gold medal events in swimming. The events are the men's 200-meter breaststroke, the men's 100-meter freestyle, the women's 200-meter butterfly and the women's 4X200-mter freestyle relay.

- The men's gymnastics all-around is also taking place with the U.S. team looking to rebound after its fifth-place finish in the team competition earlier in the week.

- In women's beach volleyball the U.S. team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, the reigning two-time gold medalists, are back in action. They wrap up pool play against a team from Austria. Walsh will be competing with a case of pink eye, which she calls, "super minor."

- The women's basketball team is back on the court with a game against Turkey, and the men's synchronised three-meter springboard final is on tap.