The event, scheduled to run through to Sunday (February 16) at the Filipino capital’s Rizal Memorial Coliseum, will serve as the Asian qualifiers for the 2020 Thomas and Uber Cup.

Competitors can also accumulate points as part of the qualification process for this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus as a global emergency.

More than 900 people have died and there are more than 40,000 cases in 28 countries and territories, with the vast majority of these in China.

"Unforeseen health hazard apprehension due to the coronavirus outbreak has resulted in withdrawal of the women’s team for the upcoming Badminton Asian Championships," a Badminton Association of India (BAI) statement reads.

"After receiving complete assurances from BA (Badminton Asia), BAI had discussed the same with the Indian squad, the men’s team agreed to travel and confirmed their participation however, the women’s team was withdrawn owing to concerns showed by parents and players."

The men's tournament is made up of 10 countries divided into four groups.

South Korea and Indonesia are in Group A, while India, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are in Group B, Chinese Taipei, Singapore and the Philippines are in Group C, and Japan and Thailand are in Group D.

The women's competition sees nine nations split into four groups.

Japan and Malaysia are in Group W, while South Korea and Kazakhstan are in Group X, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines are in Group Y, and Chinese Taipei and Singapore are in Group Z.

Group matches are due to be played through to Thursday (February 13), with the knockout stage on Friday and Saturday (February 14 and 15) and the finals on Sunday.

Indonesia are the defending men's champions, while Japan are the current holders of the women's title.

The inaugural edition of the Badminton Asia Team Championships took place in Indian city Hyderabad in 2016 and the second was held in Alor Setar in Malaysia in 2018.