Manila: Philippines did not officially disallow the China and Hong Kong team to participate in the Asian Badminton Championships, but it has introduced travel bans covering all persons coming directly from China and its two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau due to fear of the spread of coronavirus, which also indirectly banning players from China and Hong Kong to compete at the tournament.
As the death toll of coronavirus has reached 908 with over 40,171 people infected globally, and despite the Badminton World Federation has reassured that shuttlers from China would still be able to play at the Asian Badminton Championships, the strict travel bans on China, Hong Kong and Macau pretty much ended the hopes of China and Hong Kong players to play in Manila.
In addition to China and Hong Kong, India’s women’s team also pulled out from the tournament amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak, especially when the players and their parents have shown serious concern about the situation.
Due to these withdrawals, Badminton Asia, the event organizer will hold a re-draw on Monday to determine the final seeding in the men’s and women’s team events.
