The Asian Table Tennis Union on Friday announced the postponement of the 2020 Asian Cup due to the outbreak and spread of the novel coronavirus in China.

The event, the last continental championship before the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, was originally scheduled for February 28 to March 1 in Wenchang in China's Hainan Province. Star players such as Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, Liu Shiwen and Mima Ito were due to take part.

The organization said it had decided to postpone the event to a later date "in light of the recent situation and development of coronavirus-related diseases in cities of China." 

Many important sporting events, including several Tokyo 2020 qualifying events and the first test event for Beijing 2022 have been rescheduled, postponed or canceled recently as the novel coronavirus wreaks havoc in China.