2020 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals have been postponed to next year!

39
Image Courtesy: Getty/PTI

As world sports is slowly coming back into action amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals was presumed to mark the return of badminton. Unfortunately, as multiple teams and players decided to drop out from the tournament over virus woes and other reasons, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has now postponed the prestigious tournament to next year.

Image Courtesy: Getty/PTI

This year, the 31st edition of Thomas cup (male) and the 28th edition of Uber cup (female), was originally supposed to be held in May. After multiple postponements during the novel Coronavirus outbreak, the tournament was finally penned down to be hosted from 3rd to 11th October in Aarhus, Denmark.

However, several countries such as South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Algeria and Thailand have already decided to withdraw from the tournament.

Indian doubles players Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were the first shuttlers to announce their exit from the tournament. Badminton icon Saina Nehwal also elevated queries regarding the tournament being hosted amid the virus pandemic.

ALSO READ: Saina Nehwal raises question over hosting Uber Cup in midst of Covid-19 pandemic

As teams drop out one by one, BWF pushes back Thomas & Uber Cup Finals until 2021

Following an online council meeting last Sunday, the governing body of the sport has pulled the plug on the tournament and has pushed it back to next year.

“The Badminton World Federation (BWF), in full consultation and agreement with local host Badminton Denmark, has made the tough decision to postpone the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 in Aarhus, Denmark,” said BWF in an official statement.

“The decision comes following the withdrawal of a number of participating teams from the TOTAL BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals and the European leg of the adjusted HSBC BWF World Tour. BWF is looking into possible alternative dates to reschedule the World Men’s and Women’s Team Championships, but on dates not before into 2021,” the statement added.

On the other hand, BWF confirmed that the Denmark Open, which is scheduled from October 13th to 18th in Odense, will go ahead as planned. Although, the subsequent Denmark Masters event, which was planned to run from 20th to 25th October has been suspended.

If you like reading about MMA, make sure you check out MMAIndia.com
Also follow India’s biggest arm wrestling tournament at ProPanja.com

Pullela Gopichand requests domestic production of shuttles as import ban leads to scarcity

Auspicious inauguration: Kiren Rijiju leads the laying of foundation stone for sports facilities in Ladakh