Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal’s slim hopes of qualifying for Tokyo Games ended after the sport’s governing physique (BWF) on Friday made it clear there is not going to be any change within the present rating checklist and no additional match might be held contained in the qualification interval.
Former world no 1 Srikanth and London Games bronze-medallist Saina’s hopes have been all however dashed when the final of the Olympic qualifiers in Singapore was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The duo had held on a slim hope when the governing physique stated it “will issue a further statement on Tokyo Olympics qualifying at a later date”.
“The Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm no further tournaments will be played inside the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifying window,” the apex physique stated in a press release on Friday.
“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.”
Owing to the well being disaster, the world physique had earlier revised the qualification interval, extending it by practically two months to June 15 after postponement of three essential occasions.
However, with no respite from the pandemic, BWF was pressured to cancel or postpone the final three qualifiers — India Open, Malaysia Open and Singapore Open, leaving gamers, together with Srikanth and Saina, with no likelihood to earn a qualification.
“The Olympic qualification process is in effect closed as there are no additional opportunities for players to earn points,” BWF secretary basic Thomas Lund stated.
“However, we still need to receive confirmations from National Olympic Committees and Member Associations, followed by any possible reallocations, and this will take a number of weeks to complete.”
According to the qualification guidelines, the highest 16 gamers – a most of two gamers every in males’s and girls’s singles from a rustic – as on June 15 will achieve direct entries.
The BWF stated “invitations will be sent shortly with final participation lists and seedings to be published at the conclusion of this process.”
Indian shuttlers who’ve already made the cut for the Olympics embody PV Sindhu, B Sai Praneeth, and the lads’s doubles pairing of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
