KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Badminton Association (BAM) will continue with the 2021 Malaysia Open from May 25 to 30, despite the withdrawal of some countries from the championship, which has a Super 750 status.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh said the championship, which is also a qualifying platform for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games, can still continue so long as the player quota at the championship is met.
“As long as there are 32 (solo) players and pairs, we will continue,” he told Bernama today.
Following the increase in Covid-19 infections Malaysia, Goh said BAM will ensure compliance to the standard operating procedures set by the government in order to continue with the championship and also help curb the proliferation of the disease.
The German Open last March became the first Olympic qualifying championship to be cancelled, while the India Open scheduled from May 11 to 16 in New Delhi has been postponed following widespread Covid-19 cases in the country.
For the record, world’s number two men’s singles player Viktor Axelsen of Denmark was today confirmed Covid-19-positive, and has to withdraw from the finals of the 2021 European Badminton Championship in Kyiv, Ukraine. – Bernama, May 2, 2021
