Bangkok(THAILAND): The Badminton Association of India (BAI) informed on Tuesday that Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from the Thailand Open after testing positive for COVID-19.
The BAI said men’s world number 28 HS Prannoy had also tested positive and pulled out. The association added that Nehwal’s husband, Parupalli Kashyap, had also withdrawn from the tournament and was currently quarantined in his hotel room.
With these cases the Indian team has been categorised as high risk by Thai health authorities and all players and staff are currently quarantining in their hotel rooms.
However, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said three of the four positive tests it received in a third round of testing had been re-tested and found to be negative.
The BAI said that they were in contact with the BWF and that London Olympics bronze medallist Nehwal and Prannoy would isolate in a Bangkok hospital for 10 days.
Nehwal said she was informed by tournament officials to go to the hospital shortly before her first-round match against Malaysia’s Kisona Selvaduray and that she was unaware she had tested positive.
“I did not give her a walkover. The BWF only told me to go to the hospital to get another test done. I have still not got the result of the test,” Nehwal told.
“Each individual is subject to daily testing until further notice from the Department of Disease Control, but players can continue to play upon producing a negative result,” the BWF added.
The Thailand Open is the first tournament of the Asian leg of the BWF World Tour.
