Hong Kong badminton chiefs turn down Thomas Cup wild card as hotel quarantine and Asian Games selection hamper preparation
- New Zealand unable to send team to premier men’s badminton competition after bulk of squad tests positive for Covid-19
- Hong Kong next in line based on rankings, but coach says there’s no time to assemble a team with internal selection for Asian Games the priority
Hong Kong has turned down the opportunity for a wild-card entry to this year’s Thomas Cup, the premier men’s badminton team event, as the city’s players finish up hotel quarantine and await a decision on Asian Games selection.
The world’s top 16 teams will compete for the honours at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, but Oceania representative New Zealand was unable to send its team after the bulk of its squad tested positive for Covid-19.
With no other Oceania nation able to fill the continental quota, Hong Kong had been invited as the next in line based on world rankings, according to the Badminton World Federation.
“This is a good opportunity to rub shoulders against the world’s best, but unfortunately we do not have the time and therefore have to decline the invitation,” head coach Tim He Yiming said.
“Our players are still in quarantine after returning from the Asia Championships in Manila and even if they travel to Thailand this week, they will not have the form and match fitness for the event.
“Also, we are unable to stage any kind of internal selection for the event which is against our common practice for sending players to major events.”
