This breaking news directly impacts the two Grade 3 tournaments to be played in New Zealand in the next two weeks: YONEX North Harbour International and YONEX Waikato International are Suspended and therefore will not be going ahead as planned over the next two weeks.
BWF PRESS RELEASE
With particular reference due to Olympic Qualification, BWF will make a further announcement regarding regulations related to Olympic Qualification points at a later date.
The announcement states that “The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has taken the necessary step to suspend all HSBC BWF World Tour and other BWF-sanctioned tournaments from Monday 16 March until Sunday April 12.”
“The escalation of the COVID-19 outbreak globally has led the BWF, in close consultation and consensus with its Host Member Associations and Continental Confederations, to cancel or postpone all tournaments in this period due to heightened travel and quarantine restrictions in place and the subsequent extreme logistical complications this causes to the movement of badminton athletes.”
BWF and the hosts are closely monitoring the situation in countries where scheduled tournaments are hosted and will inform the badminton community immediately if the status of these tournaments change.
The health, safety and wellbeing of players, their entourage, fans, officials and all other concerned parties as the top priority.
If you would like more information and the BWF’s full statement: BWF MEDIA STATEMENT ON COVID-19
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the two events please contact events@badmintonoceania.org
Full list of suspended tournaments:
