Saina Nehwal tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of her 1st round match at Thailand Open India Today Web Desk
Olympic bronze medallist and former world number 1 Saina Nehwal has tested positive for Covid-19 at the Thailand Open. In a 3rd and last mandatory round of Covid-19 tests ahead of the tournament, Saina Nehwal tested positive and was asked to isolate in a hospital for a minimum of 10 days by the organisers. The 30-year-old has been withdrawn from the tournament.
Earlier, BWF had said that Indian men s world number 28 HS Prannoy also tested positive for Covid-19. However, the association later clarified that he has tested negative. Further, Saina Nehwal s husband and men s world number 24 Parupalli Kashyap has also been asked to self-quarantine as he shares the room with his wife.
Kento Momota tests positive for COVID-19, Japan pulls out of Thailand events
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
World number one Kento Momota s long-awaited return to the international circuit has been delayed after he tested positive for COVID-19, prompting his national team to pull out of upcoming events in Thailand, Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Sunday.
It has been a year since Momota sustained a career-threatening injury to his eye socket following a car accident on the way to Kuala Lumpur airport just hours after winning the Malaysia Masters last January.
Meanwhile, India s Lakshya Sen has also pulled out of the tournament due to a back strain that he sustained during training. The 19-year-old, who claimed five titles in the senior circuit in 2019 including two BWF World Tour Super 100 top honours, the SaarLorLux Open and the Dutch Open, has been advised rest by doctors after he suffered a back injury.
Lakshya Sen file image | Special arrangement
Rising Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen has pulled out of this month’s consecutive tournaments in Thailand due to a back strain that he sustained during training.
The 19-year-old, who claimed five titles in the senior circuit in 2019 including two BWF World Tour Super 100 top honours, has been advised rest by doctors after he suffered a back injury.
“Unfortunately, Lakshya will not be able to play the two events in Thailand due to a slight back strain that he suffered during training,” PPBA Director and former India coach Vimal Kumar told PTI.
Thailand will host two Super 1000 events between January 12-17 and January 19-24. Sen, a silver medallist from the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, will not be able to participate even in the second event because of the quarantine protocols.