Dubai-bound Koreans withdrawn from U.S. Grand Prix

Seven Korean players who may qualify for the Superseries Finals have been withdrawn from the U.S. Grand Prix tournament in California this month.  The K&D Graphics / YONEX Grand Prix in Orange County takes place the same week as the million-dollar BWF World Superseries Finals in Dubai and all seven Korean players, or their partners, stand a chance of qualifying for invitations to the event, which will only be issued after the completion of this week’s Hong Kong Open, the last of the twelve-event BWF World Superseries.

Mixed doubles world #6 Ko Sung Hyun is the only one of the seven who has mathematically clinched a spot in Dubai but Kim Ki Jung, Kim Sa Rang, and Chae Yoo Jung are all in the top 8 in their respective disciplines following the China Open and Son Wan Ho still has a chance to qualify in men’s singles.  Shin Baek Cheol, who was also withdrawn, cannot qualify for Dubai but both of his partners can and the same goes for Shin Seung Chan.

Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara and Reika Kakiiwa / Miyuki Maeda, who are already tentatively qualified for the Finals, remain on the U.S. Grand Prix entry list, as do Korea’s Go Ah Ra and Yoo Hae Won, along with a few other players who have an outside chance of qualifying.  (For the latest lists of probable Dubai qualifiers, see here)

It is still unclear how the entry in the U.S. Grand Prix will affect the Korean players, if at all.  The text of article 5.5 of the BWF’s General Competition Regulations reads:

Any subsequent withdrawal by a player / pair accepted in the main or qualifying draw of the tournament will not allow him to enter in any other tournament with overlapping dates.

However, there is no specific mention of whether the policy is different in the case of an invitation from the BWF for a tournament it has made compulsory for qualified players to participate in.

All of the withdrawn Koreans are still on the entry lists both for the Mexico Grand Prix the week following Dubai – along with many of the other top players who are playing in the U.S. event – and for the U.S. International Challenge in Orlando, which takes place the week before the Superseries Finals.