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In a shocker of news, seven Indian shuttlers have tested positive for Covid-19 as the virus continues to wreck India Open 2022 badminton tournament. The list includes Kidambi Srikanth, Ashwini pappa, Ritika Thaker, Treesa Jolly, Mithun Manjunath, Simran Aman Singh, Khushi Gupta. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) will not be able to replace these players in the main draw and their opponents will be given a walkover to the next round automatically.
“Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm that seven players have been withdrawn from the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19,” BWF and Badminton Association of India (BAI) said in a joint statement.
“The players will not be replaced in the main draw and their opponents will be given a walkover to the next round. Testing protocols have been implemented in accordance with Badminton World Federation and Badminton Association of India guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all participants,” the statement further added.
Earlier, B Sai Praneeth and Dhruv Rawat had withdrawn from India Open 2022 after the two tested positive for COVID-19. The entire England team pulled out of the event prior to the start of the tournament after Three Lions’ doubles specialist Sean Vendy and coach Nathan Robertson tested positive for COVID-19.
The tournament had begun on Tuesday, with some of India's biggest names in the sport participating. In the first round, Assam's Ashmita Chaliha had scored a stunning win over fifth seed and world No.28 Evgeniya Kosetskaya of Russia 24-22, 21-16.
PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth also progressed into the second round with easy wins. While Srikanth had beaten former junior world No. 1 Siril Verma 21-17, 21-10, Sindhu marched past compatriot Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli 21-5, 21-16 in her opener.
