China pulls players out of Japan Open amid worsening ties

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - China has withdrawn all its badminton players from this week's Japan Open, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday amid worsening ties between Beijing and Tokyo over a territorial row.

"The BWF can confirm the Chinese contingent has withdrawn from the Japan Open," Mr Thomas Lund, the BWF's chief operating officer told AFP.

"It is unfortunate but the tournament will go on," he added. Mr Lund declined to elaborate.