LIKE it or not, the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is never going to please everyone.
This is because several shuttlers have virtually qualified for the Games while some haven’t.
Speaking to Timesport recently, several national shuttlers shared what they think were pros and cons as they helplessly wait for more details from the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Men’s doubles shuttler, Aaron Chia said: “I think for us (with his partner Soh Wooi Yik), the move to postpone the Games was good.
“With the Covid-19 pandemic causing chaos, we now get to focus on our health.
“With tournaments postponed and rankings frozen, we are not too worried about anything else right now.”
Currently, on both the world ranking and Race to Tokyo qualifying list, Aaron-Wooi Yik are No 9, five rungs above their closest Malaysian rivals Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong.
Based on the initial qualifying format, a country can have the maximum representation of two pairs at the Olympics, if they are in the top-eight bracket.
However, BWF had announced that they would study and review the qualification as all tournaments after the recent All England have been postponed due to Covid-19.
Mixed doubles shuttler, Shevon Lai hopes the BWF will extend the qualifying period, so that she and her partner Goh Soon Huat could have a shot at making their debut in Tokyo.
Soon Huat-Shevon are currently No 11 on the Race to Tokyo list and will need at least 4,000 points to move into eight position.
Professional pair, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are at No 7.
“The postponement is good for everyone as the Covid-19 pandemic is getting out of hand.
“But as players, we are hoping the BWF would extend the qualifying period. It’s only normal for us to wish for that because we want to make our Olympics debut,” said Shevon.
For women’s singles shuttler, Soniia Cheah, anything goes right now.
“Technically, I would have qualified for the Olympics being the highest-ranked Malaysian women’s singles.
“But I don’t wish to comment much on the ‘what if’ because anything can happen. BWF have not made any comment on the qualification yet,” Soniia said.
Soniia is ranked No 26 in the world, and her closest Malaysian rival is World No 89 S.Kisona.