After prompting Indonesia to withdraw from the Thomas and Uber Cup, the Covid-19 pandemic has made the country withdraw its bid as a potential host of the Asia championships. The step is being taken to protect athletes.
By
YULIA Sapthiani
·4 minutes read
HUMAS PP PBSI
Rinov Rivaldy / Pitha Haningtyas Mentari won in the last three games of group C Mola TV PBSI Home Tournament mixed doubles to overcome the fierce resistance of Zacharia Josiahno Sumanti / Hediana Julimarbela, 21-15, 13-21, 21-17, at the Cipayung National Team, Jakarta, Thursday (2/7/2020).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The remainder of this year\'s international badminton tournaments is in question. Following the withdrawal of five countries from the Thomas and Uber Cup in Denmark due to public health concerns, Indonesia has also withdrawn as a potential host of the 2020 Badminton Asia Senior Championships.
Indonesia turned down the invitation from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to host the Asian series later this year. The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) executive board announced the decision on Sunday (13/9/2020), two days after Indonesia withdrew from the world team championships, the Thomas and Uber Cup. scheduled take place on 3-11 Oct. in Aarhus, Denmark.
This decision was made to protect the health and safety of the athletes, as there are no signs that the Covid-19 pandemic will not be subsiding anytime soon. Moreover, Badminton Denmark, that country’s badminton governing body, still plans to allow spectators, although in limited numbers.
A similar circumstance has prompted Indonesia from taking the opportunity to host the Asia senior championships in November.
"With the developments of the situation in Indonesia, many prospective participating countries are refusing to come. Many countries have also banned their citizens from traveling to Indonesia," PBSI secretary-general Achmad Budiarto said in Jakarta on Sunday.
"Seeing the responses of the prospective participating countries, it seems that the BWF will withdraw its invitation to Indonesia to host the Asian tournament series. Therefore, we are taking immediate action to cancel the plan to host [the event]," said Achmad.
Many countries have also banned their citizens from traveling to Indonesia,
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, Garuda team\'s first single after defeating Tiger team player Chico Aura Wardoyo, 18-21, 21-15, 21-13, at the Mola TV PBSI Thomas & Uber Cup 2020 internal tournament at Pelatnas Cipayung, Jakarta, Thursday (3/9/2020).
With many tournaments canceled since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the BWF released a new schedule in August. The BWF is to hold six tournaments in October-November, starting with the Thomas and Uber Cup.
For the safety of the participants, three of the championships will be held in the Denmark "bubble" over four weeks on 3-25 Oct., namely the Thomas and Uber Cup, the Denmark Open I and the Denmark Open II. Two weeks later, the seasonal tour will continue in Asia with the Asia Open I, the Asia Open II and the BWF World Tour Finals. The host country has yet to be determined.
Achmad said that the PBSI executive board had received an oral invitation to host the three championships in the Indonesian "bubble". A similar invitation was extended to Thailand.
However, Indonesia was in no condition to host the Asian events, as it has been seeing a surge in Covid-19 cases since. The PBSI wrote to Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali to cancel all halls at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex that had bee prebooked for the events.
HUMAS PP PBSI
Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto from the Rajawali team won over Daniel Marthin / Leo Rolly Carnando (Garuda), 21-13, 21-15, at the Mola TV PBSI Thomas & Uber Cup 2020 internal tournament at Pelatnas Cipayung, Jakarta, Tuesday (1 / 9/2020).
Achmad added that if the Thomas and Uber Cup were canceled due to the withdrawal of many participants, including the top teams, the European and Asian series tournaments might be canceled also. If so, badminton will not see any more tournaments through the end of the year.
Apart from Indonesia, four other countries have withdrawn from the Thomas and Uber Cup: South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Australia. Hong Kong has declined an offer to fill the vacancy left by the withdrawals.
Malaysia still in play
As reported by The New Straits Times on Sunday, Malaysia has said it would not withdraw from the Thomas and Uber Cup unless the world governing body cancelled the biennial championship. Another factor that could prevent Malaysia’s participation was if Kuala Lumpur denied its athletes overseas travel.
"Malaysia’s stance is to participate in the championship while monitoring progress of the situation," said secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
BAM\'s continued decision to participate in the event has sparked criticism from badminton fans in that country, who deem that the national governing body are not prioritizing the health and safety of athletes and officials.
