Guangzhou gets the green light to host 2002 Thomas and Uber Cups

Preparations are now in full swing for the 2002 Thomas & Uber Cup competitions after IBF's Executive Board endorsed Guangzhou as the host city for the Finals next May, www.worldbadminton.net reported over the weekend.

Although a formal agreement has yet to be signed, Punch Gunalan, chairman of IBF's Marketing Committee, and Finance chairman Tong Wai Lun held talks with representatives from Badminton Association of China, the Badminton Association of Guangzhou and local government officials earlier this week, and foresaw no difficulties with having Guangzhou host the prestigious team events, scheduled for 9-19 May.

Team entries for the qualifying stages in Melbourne, Australia and Eindhoven next February closed at the end of last week. Traditionally, the hosts of the event and the holders of the coveted trophies are given automatic entry to the finals stage of their respective events, but as China is host and holder of the Uber Cup (women's team championship), an extra qualifying slot is up for grabs in February 2002.

The Executive Board last week ruled that this additional place be given to a team from the Melbourne venue, which means there will now be three Uber Cup Finals places for teams competing in Eindhoven, and four places for teams to aim for in Melbourne.

In the Thomas Cup (men's team championships) the number of places up for grabs is unchanged - China will be joined next May by holder Indonesia, three teams from the Eindhoven semifinals stage, and three teams from the Melbourne semifinals.

The Thomas & Uber Cup competitions get underway next week in Cuba when teams from the Pan-American region battle for a berth in the semifinal stage in Eindhoven. --JP