by Ian Marshall
Asia divides into five regions – East Asia, Middle Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, West Asia; by qualification, each region is eligible to be represented by one player in the men’s singles and one in the women’s singles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Notably the West Asia qualification tournament was staged last year in Amman, Jordan from Sunday 23rd to Wednesday 26th February and caused quite a stir. The men’s singles was won by Saudi Arabia’s 23 year old Ali Alkhadrawi, the counterpart women’s event by Syria’s 11 year old Hend Zaza who, at the time, became the youngest athlete to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
At the final hurdle Ali Alkhadrawi overcame Lebanon’s David Cheaib (11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8); in a rather closer contest Hend Zaza defeated Mariana Sahakiann, also from Lebanon (11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8).
Now in Doha it is decision time for East Asia, Middle Asia, South Asia and South East Asia; each competes in their own region; additionally, there is one mixed doubles event; the winning pair only securing a Tokyo Place.
In a men’s or women’s singles event where the number of entries is less than six, an all-play-all competition will be played; six or more players two stages will be held, group followed by knock-out. The mixed doubles will be conducted on the knock-out principle throughout.
Throughout the whole qualification process for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a National Olympic Committee is limited to a maximum of one team in each of the men’s and women’s events, two players in each of the men’s and women’s singles, one mixed doubles pair.
ENTRIES – MEN’S SINGLES
Olympic ranking for March 2021
East Asia
- Munkhzorig Jargalsaikhan (Mongolia)
N/R. Lkhagvasuren Enkhbat (Mongolia)
Middle Asia
- Kirill Gerassimenko (Kazakhstan)
- Noshad Alamiyan (Iran)
- Zokhid Kenjaev (Uzbekistan)
- Nima Alamian (Iran)
- Aidos Kenzhigulov (Kazakhstan)
- Elmurod Kholikov (Uzbekistan)
N/R. Azamat Ergeshov (Kyrgystan)
South Asia
- Sharath Kamal Achanta (India)
- Sathiyan Gnanasekaran(India)
- Muhammad Rameez (Pakistan)
South East Asia
- Pang Yew En Koen (Singapore)
- Padasak Tanviriyavechakul (Thailand)
- Clarence Chew (Sungapore)
- Rafanael Nikola Niman (Indonesia)
- Jann Maria Nayre (Philippines)
- Deepash Bhagwani (Indonesia)
- John Russel Misal (Philippines)
ENTRIES – WOMEN’S SINGLES
Olympic ranking for March 2021
East Asia
- Doljinzuu Batbayar (Mongolia)
- Bolor-Erdene Batmunkh (Mongolia)
Middle Asia
- Anastassiya Lavrova (Kazakhstan)
- Zauresh Akasheva(Kazakhstan)
- Neda Shahsavari (Iran)
- Rimma Gufranova (Uzbekistan)
- Shima Safaei (Iran)
- Markhabo Magdieva (Uzbekistan)
South Asia
- Manika Batra (India)
- Sutirtha Mukherjee (India)
South East Asia
- Orawan Paranang (Thailand)
- Jessica Romero (Philippines)
- Siti Aminah (Indonesia)
- Rose Jean Fadol (Philippines)
ENTRIES – MIXED DOUBLES
One pair only qualifies for Tokyo 2020.
- Lee Sangsu / Jeon Jihee (Korea Republic)
- Sharath Kamal Achanta / Manika Batra (India)
- Padasak Tanviriyavechakul / Suthasini Sawettabut (Thailand)
- Pang Yew En Koen / Lin Ye (Singapore)
- Mohammed Abdulwahhab / Maha Faramarzi (Qatar)
- Kirill Gerassimenko / Anastassiya Lavrova (Kazakhstan)
N/R. Syahrizal Nauval Akbar mamonto / Siti Aminah (Indonesia)
N/R. Zokhid Kenjaev / Markhabo Magdieva (Uzbekistan)
N/R. Zaid Abo Yaman / Taimmaa Abo Yaman (Jordan)
N/R. Jann Mari Nayre / Rose Jean Fadol (Phlippines)
