Hong Kong Open set to return in 2022 badminton revamp after missing two years because of pandemic
- Next year’s tournament planned for November as part of Asian cluster of events, which includes two lucrative China Opens
- Organisers keep fingers crossed as air travel restrictions and quarantine measures still hold key to securing overseas players
Badminton organisers are still keeping their fingers crossed that the annual Hong Kong Open returns to the 2022 world tour calendar after being cancelled for the last two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Badminton World Federation published a revamped 2022 calendar on Thursday which is based around the idea of holding cluster tournaments primarily throughout Asia and Europe, with the Hong Kong event to be held over November 8-13.
But officials remain wary that the tournament might not go ahead as planned, because navigating Covid-19 restrictions is still a crucial part of staging any international event in Hong Kong.
“It’s still too early to say if the Hong Kong Open can return next year, although we are more than happy to see that happen,” said Chan Chi-choi, former head coach of the badminton team and now vice-chairman of the Badminton Association.
“Over the last two years, we tried our best to stage the annual tournament at the Coliseum in Hung Hom as scheduled, but it did not materialise because of the pandemic.