World badminton body cancels men's doubles for Uganda Open Championship

KAMPALA: The World Badminton Federation (WBF) has canceled the men's doubles draw for the 2021 Uganda International Badminton Open Championship.

Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) CEO Simon Mugabi told Xinhua on Saturday that the global body had confirmed the cancelation for the competition that takes place from February 25 to 28 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala.

"The men's doubles event has been canceled as there are less than eight entries," Mugabi said.

Governing body rules state there must be eight or more entries for international series tournaments such as the Uganda event.

The tournament will be the first international championship to take place in east and central Africa this year. The championship will feature men's and women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.

Mugabi said all players taking part will be subject to COVID-19 tests. "All players will have negative COVID-19 tests if they are to be allowed to participate. We also plan to have all players staying in one hotel," added Mugabi.

Players from Uganda, the United States, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Germany and Ghana have registered to take part in the tournament.

2020 winners Gergely Krausz of Hungary and Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar in men's and women's singles draws respectively have not registered to defend their titles. IANS

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