Top seeds and defending champions Japan and hosts Hong Kong China are in the quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Tong Yun Kai Cup Mixed Team Championships without lifting their racquets.
In the draw made in Hong Kong China on Thursday (Feb 28), both teams were drawn in the two-team Group A. With the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage, both, Japan and Hong Kong China will play to decide the group champions.
Group B is made up of number four seeds Chinese Taipei, sixth seeds India and Singapore.
Third seeds Indonesia, beaten quarter-finalists in the inaugural tournament held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2017, and beaten semi-finalists Thailand (seeded fifth) and Sri Lanka are in Group C.
Second seeds China, also beaten in the semifinals in 2017, Malaysia (seeded seven) and Macau China complete the cast in Group D in the 11-team championships this year.
South Korea, the runners-up to Japan in 2017 and Vietnam are the notable absentees from this year's championships. The Badminton Asia Tong Yun Kai Cup, also known as Badminton Asia Mixed Team championships are played an alternate odd year.
The event shall comprise of one men's and women's singles, one men's and women's doubles and one mixed double.
This year's championships will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai, Hong Kong China from March 19-24.
The group stages matches will be played from March 19-21 while the quarter-finals are on March 22 with the semi-finals scheduled for March 23. The final is on March 24.
The draw was held at the World Trade Centre Club in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong China . It was witnessed by representatives from Badminton Asia, Hong Kong Badminton Association, Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau, Tournament Referees, members of the media and players.
According to an official of the Hong Kong Badminton Association, more tickets for the grandstand have been sold. Tickets are priced from 150 to 350 Hong Kong dollars.
Link to Draw Ceremony : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDVq1DceLsI&feature=youtu.be
