The country of China has withdrawn all its badminton players from this week’s Japan Open due to safety fears. The Officials said on September 18, 2012 that the players were withdrawn amidst fears as the ties between Beijing and Tokyo worsen over a territorial row.
Thomas Lund the chief operating officer at the Badminton World Federation said “The BWF can confirm the Chinese contingent has withdrawn from the Japan Open”. Lund added that it is unfortunate but the tournament will go on. An official from the Table Tennis and Badminton Centre of China’s central sporting administration said, that the decision was to ensure the safety of the players considering the intense China-Japan relationships these days.
