KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Questions were raised as to why the country’s top women’s doubles pair Woon Khe Wei/Vivian Hoo were omitted from the Singapore Open although they have yet to secure a ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.

The oversight by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) may cost the pair a place in the last 16 although they are ranked 14th in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking list.

The duo, who need as many points to strengthen their position and secure a spot for the Olympics, had missed the All England championships as the BAM felt the level of competition was stiff.

Their omission from the Singapore Open, to be held from April 12-17, means their chances of accumulating points has evaporated because the deadline for collecting points for the Olympics is April 30 and there are no other competitions.

Khe Wei, 27, and Vivian, 26, may miss the boat to Brazil since most of the top pairs and pairs ranked immediately below them have all confirmed their participation in the Singapore Open and their 14th spot has come under threat.

BAM high performance manager Joanne Quay confirmed the omission of Khe Wai-Vivian. She said those in the team to Singapore are junior world champion Goh Jin Wei, Tee Jing Yi and Ho Yen Mei, who play in the singles.

National women’s doubles coach Wong Pei Tty said Khe Wei-Vivian were not in the list to Singapore because they were not in BAM’s plan for the Singapore Open.

Former coach Rosman Razak was surprised. “BAM has planned numerous competitions for the men’s doubles pairs to gather points to qualify for the Olympics but it is a different story when it comes to participation of the women’s pairs,” said Rosman.

The BAM is said to have entered the duo for the All England Super Series Premier (March 8-13) and Portugal Open Grand Prix (March 10-13) despite the clash of dates.

The duo decided to withdraw from the All England because competition was stiff and concentrate on the Portugal Open, but the attempt backfired since the BWF barred the duo from competing in Portugal after pulling out of the All England.

“That was a technical problem,” said Pei Tty, who did not want to elaborate. Khe Wei-Vivian later played in the Switzerland Open Grand Prix Gold and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Pei Tty said qualification for the Olympics will be tough because Japan and China have already secured two positions each while three spots are reserved for the Africa, Pan-America and Oceania, leaving only nine spots.

Khe Wei-Vivian can now only hope that other pairs below them would not gain any advantage in Singapore in their absence. — Bernama