BADMINTON ASIA MIXED TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 CANCELLED
PRESS RELEASE
3 February, 2021
BADMINTON ASIA MIXED TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 CANCELLED
Badminton Asia (BA) has decided to cancel the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2021, which was initially scheduled in February (Week 7/8). This is not a decision Badminton Asia has taken lightly, and there are several contributing factors that led to the difficulty in organising and hosting the event.
In this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many Asian governments are still imposing strict travel restrictions and quarantine requirements to those entering the respective countries. Players who participated in the Asian leg (1 and 2) and the World Tour Finals held from the 12th to 31st January in Bangkok, Thailand will have to conduct a 2-week mandatory quarantine after returning from these events. Unfortunately, this means that the players are unable to participate in events in close proximity to these dates, as the hosting Member Associations (MAs) are still imposing strict quarantine requirements.
Badminton Asia has also taken into consideration the timing of the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships among other events. In March, the European leg of events will be held, which is part of the Qualifications for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship is not part of the Olympic Qualification for Tokyo.
Because this event was intended to be the Continental Qualification for the Sudirman Cup Finals 2021, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has concluded that if any Continental Championships qualification tournaments do not take place in 2021, the Continental Confederation will then be represented by team(s) up to the originally allocated quota, via the world rankings.
Due to the contributing factors and difficulties listed, after much evaluation of the situation that arises, it would be in the best interest not to host/organise the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2021, in which BA hopes this matter can be approved of.
Lastly, on a side note, BWF has upgraded the Badminton Asia Championships for individual events to a World Tour Super 1000 level, where it now becomes the highest-ranking Continental Championships from 2022 onwards.
ENDS
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