India’s Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy have tested positive for coronavirus and been forced to withdraw from the ongoing Thailand Open in Bangkok, the Badminton Association of India said on Tuesday.
Nehwal withdrew from her opening match at the Thailand Open against Malaysia’s Kisona Selvaduray on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19. She and Prannoy returned positive in their third Covid-19 test in Bangkok.
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— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) January 12, 2021
Badminton Association of India is in constant touch with @bwf, players, team management and organizers. @himantabiswa @AJAYKUM78068675 #badminton pic.twitter.com/CBilGCpmO4
“We are constantly in touch with the BWF as well as the organisers and our team management and players. These are unprecedented times but BWF is doing everything to ensure full support to our players including their safety,” BAI General Secretary Ajay Singhania said in a statement.
After testing positive, both the players have been taken to the hospital to be isolated for a minimum period 10 days. While, Parupalli Kashyap has also withdrawn from the tournament and is quarantined in his hotel room due to close proximity with Nehwal.
“According to the guidelines and safety norms, these three players will not be participating in the tournament. However, all other players have been allowed to participate but they have to play without the presence of coaches and support staff as per the safety protocols,” Singhania added.
Meanwhile, Nehwal stated that she was left confused as he hadn’t received her test report and was asked to head to the hospital just before the start of her match on Tuesday.
“I still didn’t receive the covid test report from yesterday it’s very confusing and today just before the warm up for the match they tell me to got to hospital in bangkok ... saying that I m positive ..according to rules the report should come in 5 hours.. @bwfmedia,” she wrote on Twitter.
I still didn’t receive the covid test report from yesterday it’s very confusing and today just before the warm up for the match they tell me to got to hospital in bangkok ... saying that I m positive ..according to rules the report should come in 5 hours.. @bwfmedia https://t.co/ETkWiNVHnP
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 12, 2021
The first tournament of the Thailand leg – the Thailand Open – began on Tuesday. The entire Indian contingent despite being tested negative in the pre-tournament test is expected to be re-tested on Tuesday once again.
Kashyap was scheduled to play Jason Anthony Ho-Shue of Canada on Tuesday but although he returned negative, he has been forced to get quarantined.