BADMINTON ASIA. Local organizers of the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2020 pose after the draw ceremony and press conference at the Century Park Hotel in Manila on Wednesday (Jan. 29, 2020). A total of 12 teams from Asia will compete in the tournament at the newly-renovated Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 11-16, 2019. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
MANILA -- The Philippine women's badminton team found itself joining two Southeast Asian rivals in one group following the result of the draw for the Badminton Asia Team Championships at the Century Park Hotel here on Wednesday.
The Filipina shuttlers are grouped with Thailand and Indonesia in Group Y.
The two other Southeast Asian teams in the 12-team field were drawn into separate groups.
Malaysia, was drawn into Group W with Japan, the top seed in the distaff side, and Hong Kong.
Singapore, on the other hand, ended up with second seed China and Chinese Taipei in Group Z.
The other group, Group X, has South Korea, India, and Kazakhstan in it.
Meanwhile, the Philippine men's team is in for a tough grind as no less than top seed Indonesia will be in its group. Completing Group A is India.
On the other hand, Group B has China, Thailand, and Hong Kong in it, Group C is made up of Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, and Singapore, and Group D consists of Japan, South Korea, and Kazakhstan.
The Badminton Asia Team Championships will run from Feb. 11-16 at the newly-renovated Rizal Memorial Coliseum which hosted the last 30th Southeast Asian Games.
The teams in a certain group will play a single round robin preliminary phase against each other.
Up to three singles and two doubles matches will be played.
The first team to win three matches will clinch the series.
The top two teams per group will qualify for the knockout quarterfinals.
The eventual semifinalists in the men's division will qualify for the Thomas Cup in Denmark.
Olympic qualifying points will also be given to all the teams depending on their final rank, which means the champions will get a better chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. (PNA)
