Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal’s hopes of qualifying for Tokyo Games ends. The game’s governing body on Friday made clear about no change in the current ranking list and no further tournament will be held inside the qualification period.
Former world no 1 Srikanth and London Games bronze-medallist Saina’s hopes were cut within seconds but what sounded more saddening is that when the last of the Olympic qualifiers in Singapore was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The duo had hung on a slim hope when the governing body said it “will issue a further statement on Tokyo Olympics qualifying at a later date”. In a statement by apex body, it was said that “The Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm no further tournaments will be played inside the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifying window,” on Friday. Indian shuttlers who have already made the cut for the Olympics include PV Sindhu, B Sai Praneeth, and the men’s doubles pairing of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. As such, while the qualification period officially closes 15 June 2021 as per the Revised Tokyo 2020 Qualification System, the current Race To Tokyo rankings list will not change. The health crisis surging all around the world due to corona pandemic owes the world body to extend it by nearly two months to June 15 after postponement of three important events. However, with no respite from the pandemic, BWF was forced to cancel or postpone the last three qualifiers India Open, Malaysia Open and Singapore Open, leaving players, including Srikanth and Saina, with no chance to earn a qualification.
According to the qualification rules, the top 16 players which meand a maximum of two players each in men’s and women’s singles from a country as on June 15 will gain direct entries. The BWF said “invitations will be sent shortly with final participation lists and seedings to be published at the conclusion of this process.”
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