The Corona Virus Pandemic has totally disrupted the Tokyo qualification process. Most sports are yet to complete their qualification process. And now there are talks about postponing Tokyo Olympics to 2021. The IOC is expected to take a final call in the coming weeks.
Here is a look at where qualification process stands right now for various sports…
Archery: Final qualification tournament which is scheduled to take place in June is left. Continental qualifiers for America, Europe and Oceania is also pending.
Athletics: All events have been suspended and hence athletes are missing the opportunity to achieve qualification standards.
Badminton: The qualification period was supposed to end on April 26. But a lot of tournaments have got cancelled throwing qualification chances for a lot of athletes in jeopardy. BWF tour is suspended right now and there is no clarity on how qualification will work with tournaments cancelled.
Basketball: India was going to host 3X3 basketball qualifiers in March. The qualification tournament is pending now.
Boxing: World Olympic qualifiers are yet to take place. Continental qualifier for Europe and Americas are also pending.
Fencing: Official ranking is yet to be released for ranking quotas. Post that, continental qualifiers will take place.
Golf: All tours have been suspended. This will effect the Olympic ranking list. Ranking cut-off date is 22nd June for Women and 29th June for Men. It is yet to be seen what changes are done to the qualification period.
Rowing: Continental qualifiers and World qualification tournament is yet to take place.
Sailing: Continental qualification tournaments are yet to take place.
Shooting: Ranking quotas are yet to be allotted and European qualifiers are yet to take place. World Cups have been postponed which will were supposed to provide ranking points.
Table Tennis: Asian qualifier event is yet to take place. With the World Tour suspended, athletes are also missing out an opportunity to gain ranking points for ranking quotas.
Tennis: Tennis tour has been suspended till start of June. Athletes are missing out on tournaments to gain ranking points. ITF will have to change qualification period as a lot of tournaments have got cancelled.
Weightlifting: The weightlifting federation has written to IOC to make changes to its qualification system. Tournaments which were supposed to take place in March and April have been cancelled and these tournaments were supposed to provide ranking points.
Wrestling: All the continental qualification tournaments are yet to take place. The final World qualification tournament is also yet to happen.
As per IOC, 43% of Olympic quotas are still yet to be allotted.
There are lots of Indian athletes who are yet to confirm a quota for Tokyo Olympics. Let us hope things sort out soon.
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