New Straits Times

No BAM shuttlers for Denmark Open this year

- Fabian Peter

WITH the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals now postponed, BAM have decided to not send any of their players to Europe for competitio­ns this year.

Yesterday, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced that the two world team events, scheduled for Oct 3-11 in Aarhus, Denmark, will not take place this year following the withdrawal­s of several teams, including 13-time winners, Indonesia.

However, Badminton Denmark will still proceed with the Denmark Open on Oct 13-18, marking the resumption of internatio­nal badminton since the World Tour calendar was suspended in March because of the

Covid-19 pandemic.

BAM secretary general, Datuk Kenny Goh said: “Initially, we were going to have our players compete in the Denmark Open and Denmark Masters, but that was because we were ready to send our players to the Thomas and Uber Cups.

“With the events now postponed and the Denmark Masters cancelled, we do not think it’s viable to send our players to compete in the Denmark Open alone.”

Kenny, who met the national coaching staff immediatel­y after BWF made the announceme­nt, added that Malaysian shuttlers would rather focus on the Asian leg of the internatio­nal circuit, slated for November.

“After discussing with the coaches, we would rather that our players focus on the Asian leg.

“We are now waiting for more details from BWF on the Asian leg before making any further announceme­nt.”

Malaysian players, who have no issues travelling to Denmark, however, will not have to wait long to get their feet wet, as the inaugural President’s Cup, originally planned as a final preparatio­n for the Thomas Cup, will go on as planned starting today.

For the record, the Thomas Cup has never been cancelled since its inception in 1949.

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