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Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth, who clinched a bronze medal in BWF World Championships 2019, after testing positive for Covid-19, bowed out of the season-opening India Open Super 500 tournament on Sunday (January 9).
"Yes, I have tested positive for COVID-19 in RT-PCR test. I had cold and cough since yesterday. I am isolating at home," Praneeth said.
"I will have to wait for at least a week before testing again. It is an important year and there is hardly any time to regain fitness. I hope I can get back to court quickly," he added.
Badminton Association of India (BAI) general secretary, Ajay Singhania, too, confirmed Praneeth's withdrawal from the $400,000 tournament.
Another Indian player, double specialist Dhruv Rawat, also tested positive for the virus ahead of his departure for the national capital to participate in the tournament starting on Tuesday.
"We have received the withdrawal of Sai Praneeth and Dhruv Rawat as both players have tested positive. We are strictly monitoring and it's mandatory for all players to update their RT-PCR reports before reaching New Delhi. We are also conducting tests before everyone enters the stadium," said Singhania.
Praneeth, who is currently World no.18, in his last outing at the BWF World Championships 2021 couldn't perform well. He crashed out in the first round itself as was knocked out by Netherlands’ Mark Caljove in a tight match 17-21, 21-7, 21-18.
He would have thought of making a comeback in the India Open on a fresh note, but unfortunately virus played the spoilsport with the India star badminton player.
The India Open badminton tournament, a BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, is back after a two-year gap due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament will be played behind closed doors at the iconic Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, with the governing body laying down strict COVID-19 protocols, from January 11 to January 16.
"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.
"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," the release added.
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.
