* Image Credit BWF and Raphael
Much has been said about coronavirus but the Chinese Taipei team in Manila for the Badminton Asia Manila Team Championships is totally focused on its dual mission – to collect points the will qualify its players for the Tokyo Olympics in August.
There is another mission for the men's and women's teams in Manila – to play in the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals in Denmark in May on merit.
To achieve that the team must at least reach the semi-finals in Manila. The top four teams in the men's and women's categories will qualify for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Denmark in May.
In the men's team championships, Chinese Taipei is drawn in the three-team Group C with Singapore and the Philippines after a redraw following China and Hong Kong China's withdrawal from the Asian championships due to the coronavirus.
Chinese Taipei with the likes of World No 2 Chou Tien Chen and Wan Tzu Wei (World No 16) in the men's singles and Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin (World No 7), Liao Min Chun-Su Ching Heng (No 16) in the lineup) is the favorite to advance the quarter-finals with Singapore.
The women's team is powered by former World No 1 Tai Tzu Ying, who is currently ranked second in the world.
"We have come on a mission and we are totally focused on winning to get important points for the Tokyo Olympics. These Asia championships give Olympic ranking points. Both our teams are not distracted with what is happening apart from the Asian Championships," said team manager Tien Bo Yuan.
The Chinese Taipei teams arrived in Manila on Sunday and Bo Yuan is pleased with the facilities and preparations put in by the organizers.
Chinese Taipei men face the Philippines in their opening match at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday.
For the hosts, it is a "learning curve" for men's team head coach Ronald Magnaye and his players.
''We will make the best out of the opportunities we have the Badminton Asia Team Championships to further improve our game," said Magnaye.
