Shuttlers have tough mission to do well in Tokyo 2020

Best bet: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are in the running for the Tokyo Olympics as they are in the 11th spot. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: A superb badminton season ended with a great show at the World Tour Finals in China but for Malaysia, there was only a grim reminder – that it will be tough to qualify and even win one medal at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

In the finale in Guangzhou, Kento Momota of Japan showed the world he is the hot favourite to win his country’s first men’s singles Olympic Games badminton gold after ending the year in swashbuckling fashion – by winning his 11th title on Sunday.