The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced a change of dates in next year's World Championships to be held in the Spanish city of Huelva. Earlier scheduled to be held in August the new dates are Nov 29-Dec 5, 2021.
This is to avoid the world championships from clashing with the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics which have been rescheduled for next summer from July 23-Aug 8, 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Paralympics will be held from Aug 24-Sept 5, 2021.
BWF president Poul Erik-oyer said: ''The move allows both the Olympics and the World Championships to be held with equal fairness for everyone''.
Spanish Badminton Federation (FESBA) president David Cabello added: ''We hope the World Championships in Huelva will be a special occasion for badminton in Spain and the world."
For the record the World Championships is not held during an Olympic year.
India's P.V.Sindhu is the defending women singles champion while Japan's Kento Momota retained his men's singles title at last year's World Championships held in Basel, Switzerland.
Sindhu defeated Japan's Nozomi Okuhara 21-17, 21-7 in the final while Momota smashed to a 21-9, 21-3 win over Denmark's Anders Antonsen to keep his title.
