Asian Games badminton: Macao pull out of women’s competition

GUANGZHOU - Hosts China moved closer to the Asian Games badminton gold as they moved into the quarterfinal of the women’s competition after Chinese Macao withdrew Saturday as its players failed to meet the residency status set by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Xinhua reported that several Chinese Macao’s players did not comply with the OCA’s regulations that require an athlete representing a National Olympic Council to meet the minimum three-year residency status.

China were slated to face Macao in the pre-quarters, but got a walkover as the latter was forced to pull out.