Defending men's champions Indonesia and defending women's champions China have confirmed their participation in next year's Badminton Asia Men's and Women's Team Championships 2018 to be held from Feb 6-11 in Alor Setar, Malaysia.
When entries closed on Dec 19 (Tuesday) 15 men's teams and 13 women's teams confirmed their entries.
Sri Lanka, who competed at the last championships in India in 2016, are not competing this time as their badminton association is still under suspension.
The other men's teams are China, Hong Kong China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Chinese Taipei.
Vietnam will not have a team in the men's team event but will compete in the women's team event.
Kazakhstan, Myanmar and Nepal will not be sending a women's team to the championships which will also serve as the qualifying rounds for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals for Continental Asia.
The top four (semi-finalists) from the Asia Team Championships from each Men's and Women's Team categories will qualify for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals to be held in Bangkok from May 20-27 at the Impact Arena.
The Badminton Asia Team Championships will be decided on three singles and two doubles in both men's and women's categories.
The group stage will be decided on round robin format from Feb 6-8 with the top two teams from each group qualifying for knockout stage for the quarter-finals.
The knockout stage will begin on Feb 9. The semi-finals will be played on Feb 10 and the finals on Feb 11.
The championships, held in even years, will be held at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Alor Setar, Kedah.
Badminton Asia's Chief Executive Officer Mr Kenny Goh reminded all the participating countries that the submission of entries by Players Name (online) is Jan 16 2018.
Indonesia won the men's title at the last championships with are hard fought 3-2 win over Japan in the final at the last championships held in Hyderabad, India in 2016.
In the semi-finals Japan, who were then powered by Kento Momota, once ranked number two, before he was suspended for gross indiscipline, beat South Korea 3-0 while Indonesia defeated India 3-1.
Badminton powerhouse China are the defending women's champions. In the final China beat Japan 3-2 for the title. In the semi-finals China beat Korea 3-0 while Japan outclassed Thailand 3-0.
Teams
Men Women
China China
Hong Kong China Hong Kong China
Indonesia Indonesia
India India
Japan Japan
Kazakhstan Korea
Korea Malaysia
Malaysia Maldives
Maldives Philippines
Myanmar Singapore
Nepal Thailand
Philippines Chinese Taipei
Singapore Vietnam
Thailand
Chinese Taipei
