India Open Badminton: After England team, Covid strikes Indian shuttlers, B Sai Praneeth pulls out of India Open after testing Covid positive

Another Indian player, double specialist Dhruv Rawat, has also tested positive for the virus ahead of his departure for the national capital to participate in the tournament starting on Tuesday.

The player didn’t have any symptoms and underwent RT-PCR tests before leaving for Delhi.

In January last year, Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy had tested positive in Thailand but were found to be negative after re-examination.

Organised by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), the 2022 edition of India Open will be held behind closed doors at the Indira Gandhi Stadium’s KD Jadhav Indoor Hall with the governing body laying down strict COVID-19 protocols.

“All the participating players will be taking the necessary safety precautions right from their arrival in New Delhi as per protocol, and will be tested everyday at the hotel and from there they will be having shuttle buses to come to the stadium, play matches and go back to the hotel again,” the BAI said in a release.

“All the players as well as tournament, match officials, BWF and BAI officials, support staff, vendors and others involved will have to go through a mandatory COVID test each day outside the stadium, and only after being tested negative they will be allowed inside the venue,” the release added.

“BAI will not compromise on the safety of the players as well as others involved, and will be following all the COVID-19 guidelines given by the government,” it said.

Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen were among the Indian players who have already arrived in the national capital on Sunday.

Kidambi Srikanth is likely to arrive late in the evening, while Saina will land on Monday.

Top shuttlers, including world champion Loh Kean Yew and three-time men’s doubles world champion Mohammad Ahsan, had their first training session on Sunday.

India Open Badminton: After England team, Covid strikes Indian shuttlers, B Sai Praneeth pulls out of India Open after testing Covid positive