Oly badminton qualifiers: Blow for Indians as Malaysia Open postponed
By IANS |
Published on
Fri, May 7 2021 18:33 IST |
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Oly badminton qualifiers: Blow for Indians as Malaysia Open postponed. Image Source: IANS News
New Delhi, May 7 : The chances of several Indian badminton players hoping to qualify for this year s Tokyo Olympic Games were dealt a body blow on Friday as the Malaysia Open Super 750 tournament was postponed.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) also announced that the tournament would no longer be an Olympic qualification event, leaving June s Singapore Open Super 500 as the only remaining Olympic qualifier where players will have to perform well to qualify.
SAI U-turn after BAI says India not withdrawn from Oly qualifiers
Thu, May 06 2021 10:13:35 PM
New Delhi, May 6 (IANS): There seems to be a communication gap between the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Badminton Association of India (BAI). Just over an hour after SAI announced that the Indian badminton team had withdrawn from this month s Malaysia Open Super 750 tournament, BAI contradicted the statement saying it was still in talks with the Malaysian government for allowing Indians to compete there. SAI subsequently did a U-turn on its initial statement.
Malaysia has put a travel ban on Indians due to the raging Covid-19 pandemic. But the tournament is important for Indian shuttlers as Malaysia Open Super 750 and the Singapore Open Super 500 tournament on June 1-6 are the last qualification events for this year s Tokyo Olympic Games. The withdrawal of the Indian team from these events would mean the end of hope to qualify for the likes of former world No.1 players
Blow for Saina, Srikanth as India withdraw from Malaysia Open
By IANS |
Published on
Thu, May 6 2021 18:27 IST |
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Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth.. Image Source: IANS News
New Delhi, May 6 : Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal s chances of making it to this year s Tokyo Olympics are all but over after the Indian contingent withdrew from the Malaysian Open on Thursday. Malaysia has imposed a ban on travellers from India, which is witnessing a massive surge in Covid-19 cases during the second wave. The Indian badminton team will have to withdraw from the Malaysian Open, scheduled from May 25 to 30, owing to a temporary travel restriction imposed by the Malaysian Government on travellers from India, said the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Thursday.
Tokyo 2021: International travel restrictions put several Indians Olympics dream on hold
DPA/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire
The worsening second wave of Covid-19 cases in India has prompted a host of countries to lock their borders to travellers from the country. The impact, with the Olympics now barely three months away, falls squarely on Indian athletes scrambling for a final shot at qualification berths. Over the past few days, more countries have added India to their red list, causing flights to be suspended and tournament plans to be scrapped. We look at some sports where qualification events are still pending and the possible impact of extended travel restrictions.
Unfair, upsetting : Saina, Srikanth s Tokyo hopes dwindle with India Open postponement
Saina Nehwal is currently 22nd in the Race to Tokyo rankings.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images for Falcon
On Monday, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced the postponement of next month s India Open Super 500 in New Delhi, following the deteriorating virus scenario in the capital, which went into a six-day lockdown the same night. It was to be one among the final three Olympic qualification tournaments. This turn of events has further complicated the qualification path for former World No .1 Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal, the London Olympics bronze medallist. The two are now left staring at a steep climb of ranking points from just two competitions Malaysia Open Super 750 and Singapore Open Super 500 over the next two months.