THE Badminton World Federation (BWF) have created a stir by allowing only China and Hong Kong to collect Olympic qualifying ranking points at next year's Asian Mixed Team Championships.
Except for both East Asian nations, the other teams will not be awarded qualifying points.
This is because China and Hong Kong did not compete in this year's Asian Team Championships, an Olympic qualifying event, in February in Manila due to travel restrictions imposed by the Philippines government.
Other teams, including Malaysia and Indonesia, had earned points from matches (singles and doubles) in that competition.
The Manila tournament, however, did not include the mixed doubles event.
The Asian Mixed Team Championships in February, which is within the 17-week Olympic qualifying period, will include the mixed doubles event.
This means that China and Hong Kong's mixed pairs will have an additional event to earn points compared to other pairs.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh has written to BWF secretary Thomas Lund on the matter.
"We need clarity as China and Hong Kong pairs will earn points from the mixed doubles event at the Asian Mixed Team Championships.
"This gives an unfair advantage as the mixed doubles event was not part of the Asian Team Championships this year.
"China already have two pairs in the top-eight bracket, and both are likely to qualify for the Olympics.
"Our worry is Hong Kong as Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (ranked No 9 on the Road to Tokyo list), will have a good chance to break into the top eight and claim an Olympic berth.
"The BWF may have overlooked the mixed doubles issue. We hope that they will look into the situation."
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are the highest-ranked Malaysians on the Road To Tokyo qualifying list at No 7, followed by Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (11) and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (13).
