We’re seeing the first of what’s sure to be an unfolding of changes to various nations’ selection policies and qualification criteria for major international elite events following the postponement and then insertion of a 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships.
As you’ve read on this site, Budapest will be the host of this year’s Worlds now slated for June 18th through July 3rd, as the original event for 2022 was postponed to next year in Fukuoka, Japan.
For Japan, this means that their upcoming International Competition Selection Meet slated for March will now serve as the sole qualification event for Budapest.
Slated for March 2nd – March 5th at the storied Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Centre, this Selection Meet was originally going to be paired with June’s Japanese Swimming Championships as two qualification opportunities for swimmers to add their names to the Japanese roster for Worlds.
However, as the latter meet now overlaps with the dates of 2022 Budapest, only the Selection Meet will count towards Worlds qualification.
Additionally, the Japanese Swimming Championships will move to April 28th – May 1st, although the venue is yet to be decided. At these second championships, the Asian Games participants, as well as World University Games and World Junior Championships participants will be decided