In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Badminton Asia tourney in Manila postponed due to Covid-19

By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno

March 22, 2020, 5:44 pm

MANILA – The Badminton Asia Championships, which the Philippines will be hosting, has been postponed due to the coronavirus diseases (Covid-19).

The development happened after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) suspended all the tournaments that are scheduled for the next two months.

"The health, safety and well-being of all athletes, their entourage, officials and the greater badminton community is the top priority," the BWF said in a statement.

Initially scheduled to take place in Wuhan, the BWF moved the event to the Philippines following the Covid-19 situation in the China’s central city, and the country's successful hosting of the Badminton Asia Team Championships last month.

However, the BWF decided to postpone the event scheduled from April 21-26 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic which also hit the Philippines.

The BAC is among the last qualifying events for the Tokyo Olympics, which means the postponement can factor on whether Japan will still push through with the quadrennial meet originally set from July 24 to August 9 this year. (PNA)

Comments