Shin Baek Cheol to stay home from Rio?

The Badminton Korea Association (BKA) gave an early signal this week that former Asian Games gold medallist and World Champion Shin Baek Cheol would not be selected to represent Korea at the Rio Olympics.  On Monday, the BKA published a list of ‘participating athletes’ for the Rio Olympics that listed the higher-ranked Kim Gi Jung / Kim Sa Rang as Korea’s second men’s doubles pair.

Photo: Yves Lacroix / Badmintonphoto

The report (page in Korean) begins by describing how the athletes had confirmed their qualification for Rio but then goes on to list the participants, without pointing out that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) gives associations such as the BKA the right to choose qualifiers who are in specified ranges.  Specifically, Korean authorities have the power – under BWF rules – to opt for world #6 Ko Sung Hyun and Shin Baek Cheol instead of world #4 Kim/Kim or even world #1 Lee/Yoo, as all three pairs are within the top eight and one member association is limited to two entries.  In fact, as Korea has earned only one quota spot for mixed doubles, the association could select any one of the three pairs that finished the Rio qualification period in the top 13, one of which is Shin Baek Cheol and Chae Yoo Jung.

While the BKA could yet change its mind, few will be surprised if the two Kims indeed get the nod.  Apart from the case of the semi-retired Lee Hyun Il, the BKA is not known for making selections not in line with rankings, as are some of its counterparts.  That and the recent performances by Kim/Kim make them an obvious choice.

Still, the timing of this press release is unexpected.  In 2012, Chinese authorities did not announce which three women’s singles players from their top four they intended to field in London until early July and this year as well, there has been no official word on which of China’s shuttlers will be selected.  With the change in rules, China now can choose two from among five women in the singles top sixteen and has similar decisions to make in three of the other four disciplines as well.

Most of the Korean team was in Japan this week for the 33rd edition of the Korea-Japan bi-nation challenge.  Korea won three of four team ties but Ko and Shin conceded feat to both of Japan’s top men’s doubles pairs.

Another part of the Rio picture came into sharper focus this week when the United States announced that they would be able to field all three of their top doubles pairs.  Each pair was the top ranker from the Pan American region and although one member association is limited to two continental spots, the uncertainty seems to have lifted and indications are now that Eva Lee and Paula Obanana are being treated as having qualified for Rio outright.  Lee and Obanana are the 16th pair to qualify in women’s doubles and there are no eligible pairs from Asia or Europe between them and the 15th pair.