Coronavirus sees China skip Tokyo 2020 women’s handball qualifiers
- Hong Kong turn down offer to play over coronavirus fears, opening the door for Thailand to reach Olympic Games
- IHF also rule that China will not host the 2020 Women’s Youth World Championship in August
China’s women’s handball team will not be going to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this summer after pulling out of the qualifying tournament next month because of fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
The International Handball Federation announced on Monday that Thailand would replace China in the qualifiers next month after Hong Kong refused the offer to play.
“Due to the withdrawal of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong’s invitation decline because of the coronavirus, Thailand has been named as the 12th nation that will participate in the Tokyo 2020 Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament,” they said in a statement on their website.
The qualifying process will not include either China or North Korea, who had already pulled out.
“Thailand will play in Olympic Qualification Tournament No 3 from 20 to 22 March in Montenegro with Norway, Montenegro and Romania.