China likely to send full squads for four badminton events to Tokyo

Chinese badminton players Chen Long (L) and Shi Yuqi. /CFP

China's badminton squad for the Tokyo Olympics has basically been confirmed as the Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced the cancellation of Singapore Open 2021 on Wednesday.

"Tournament organizers Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) and Badminton World Federation (BWF) have jointly agreed to cancel the Singapore Open 2021 scheduled for 1 – 6 June 2021," the BWF said in a statement. "BWF can confirm the tournament will not be rescheduled."

Chinese badminton players He Bingjiao (L) and Chen Yufei. /CFP

The Singapore Open was supposed to be the last tournament of Race to Tokyo, in which players can earn ranking points for Tokyo Olympic qualification. Such events had been halted for a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The BWF tried to bring them back from the Swiss Open in March, but multiple tournaments again were canceled because of the coronavirus.

BWF said it "will issue a further statement on Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifying at a later date." But if no new competitions are added before the Tokyo Games, there is unlikely to be much surprise for the Chinese national badminton team.

Jia Yifan (L) and Chen Qingchen compete in the women's doubles quarterfinals in the All England Open in Birmingham, England, March 13, 2020. /CFP

Du Yue (L) and Li Yinhui compete in the women's doubles match in the China National Badminton Team competition in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, China, March 27, 2021. /CFP

According to relevant rules, if one badminton association has two or two pairs of players ranking either singles top 16 and doubles top 8 on the Olympic points list, that association can send these players to Tokyo.

Though Chinese players missed international competitions for a year, the Chinese Badminton Association can still send full squad (two) to four events in the Tokyo Olympics.

Huang Yaqiong (R) and Zheng Siwei compete in a mixed doubles match in the China National Badminton Team competition in Sanya, March 28, 2021. /CFP

Wang Yilyu (R) and Huang Dongping compete in a mixed doubles match in the China National Badminton Team competition in Sanya, March 27, 2021. /CFP

Men's singles: Chen Long (No. 6), Shi Yuqi (No. 11)

Women's singles: Chen Yufei (No. 1), He Bingjiao (No. 11)

Women's doubles: Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan (No. 2), Du Yue/Li Yin (No. 6)

Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong (No. 1), Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping (No. 2)

Liu Yuchen (R) and Li Junhui compete in the men's doubles match in the China National Badminton Team competition in Sanya, March 27, 2021. /CFP

The only problem comes from the men's doubles lineup. China only has one pair, Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen, rank top 8 for this (No. 3). The young duo Chan Chengkai/Zhou Haodong is No. 12 and 9,393 points away from No. 8 Choi Sol-gyu/Seo Seung-jae of South Korea.

The Chinese national badminton team has already assembled in Beijing and will spend the next 100 days refining their skills.