Houston (USA), Jun 21 (EFE) .- The player Beiwen Zhang on Monday became the first athlete in her modality to be chosen to be part of the United States Olympic team at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
Zhang, 30, the world’s 14th player, grew up in China and moved to the United States in 2013.
More invitations could be sent to nations according to which National Olympic Committees accept places before June 25.
The United States had seven badminton athletes for the 2016 Rio Games, one inning for each of the men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with a best tying result for ninth place.
Team USA has never won an Olympic medal in badminton, which debuted as a medal sport at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
The last time the United States sent a team of an athlete in any sport to an Olympic Games was for the Sydney 2000 Games, also in badminton.
In total, 409 athletes have qualified so far for the United States Olympic team, which will be increased to bring together more than 500 athletes who are expected to be present in the parade for the opening ceremony on July 23.
Many of the qualified athletes had to be reconfirmed by the national governing body and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee following the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But there are no signs that any of its places are in danger.
