The ManicaPost
AS the world scrambles to get to grips with the coronavirus outbreak, global sporting events are taking a hit.
There are now close to 90 000 cases, the majority of which are from mainland China.
The World Health Organisation is preparing for a potential pandemic, so it seems the list of sports affected by the virus will grow.
There are fears Tokyo 2020 may be impacted but organisers insist preparations are going ahead as planned.
Here is a list of the major sporting events so far hit by the coronavirus.
Football
Swiss Super League postpones weekend fixtures after government bans large public events. The start of the Chinese Super League has been postponed. China’s women’s national football team was held in quarantine after Olympic qualifying matches were moved from China to Australia. South Korea’s professional soccer league has postponed the start of its new season.
Four Serie A matches postponed in March due to a spike in cases in northern Italy. Inter Milan’s Europa League game against Ludogorets was played behind closed doors. Five Serie A matches will be played behind closed doors.
Japan’s J.League postponed seven Levian Cup matches in February and all domestic games through early March.
Athletics
The 2020 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing has been postponed until next year.
The Tokyo Marathon was run in front of empty streets and restricted to elite athletes only.
Basketball
Multiple Asia Cup qualifying matches have been postponed, including Philippines vs. Thailand and Japan vs. China
Golf
The European Tour canceled April’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia and the following week’s China Open.
The LPGA canceled the elite Blue Bay tournament due to be held in Hainan. It also canceled the 2020 Honda LPGA Thailand and the 2020 HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Cycling
The remaining stages of the UAE cycling tour have been canceled after two team members tested positive.
Badminton
China Masters tournament in Hainan has been postponed.
The Vietnam International Challenge has been pushed back from Mach to June and won’t act as a Tokyo 2020 qualifier.
Showjumping
The Longines Masters of Hong Kong showjumping event has been cancelled.
Esports
The 2020 League of Legends LPL Spring tournament has been postponed.
Boxing
The Olympic boxing qualifiers for Asia and Oceania teams were moved from Wuhan to Jordan.
Winter Sports
The first Winter X-Games event to be held in China has been postponed. The downhill and super-G men’s alpine skiing World Cup races were canceled in February.
The World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in South Korea have been postponed. —Eurosport
