Govt asks Chinese shuttlers’ updates

New Delhi, Feb. 29: The Government of India has sent a questionnaire to the Badminton Association of India, seeking clarity on health status of the Chinese shuttlers, scheduled to travel to the national capital for next month’s Indian Open.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday asked the BAI to furnish some details about the Chinese players before it takes a call regarding their entry into the country for the Super 500 tournament, which is a crucial event for the Tokyo Olympics qualification.

Some of the questions asked by the Ministry include: ‘Players/ Officials are from which state of China?’, ‘How many players/officials have undergone for medical check-up and medical certificate has been issued’?, ‘How many players / Officials are coming from the other countries?’

After receiving the queries, BAI has directed the questions to their Chinese counterparts and is awaiting a response.

“We have sent the questions received from the external affairs ministry to the Chinese Badminton Association. We are waiting for a response. Once they revert, we will send them to the Ministry to start the visa process,” BAI secretary Ajay Singhania said.

World No.1 Chen Yufei, world number eight He Bingjiao and former All England champion Shi Yu Qi are some of the stars of the 60-plus Chinese squad who are expected to compete at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium from March 24 to 29.

WADA CALLS OFF ITS MEET IN SWITZERLAND

The World Anti-Doping Agency has cancelled its annual symposium and related athlete session in Switzerland over concerns about the coronavirus epidemic.

In a statement issued on Friday, Montreal-based WADA said it took the decision based on the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health’s announcement banning large-scale gatherings of more than 1,000 people in Switzerland until March 15.

INTERNATIONAL GAMES MAYBE POSTPONED: FIFA FIFA president Gianni Infantino has refused to rule out postponing international football matches in response to the escalating global threat of the coronavirus.

This weekend’s matches in the leading two divisions in Switzerland, where football’s global governing body FIFA has its headquarters, were postponed on Friday after the government banned all events involving more than a thousand people.