Virus-positive shuttlers cleared to play
published : 13 Jan 2021 at 05:38
newspaper section: News
Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal has been cleared to compete at the Yonex Thailand Open in Bangkok, despite testing positive for Covid-19.
Nehwal: Infected in past
Former world No.1 Nehwal was one of four players who tested positive before the start of the six-day event at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.
The other three are all men: Indian international HS Prannoy, Jones Ralfy Jansen of Germany and Adham Hatem Elgamal from Egypt.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) announced Tuesday night that after further tests, Nehwal, Prannoy and Jansen had been cleared to play in the first round on Wednesday but Elgamal had been withdrawn.
Nehwal's husband Kashyap Parupalli, who is in the men's draw, has been asked to self-quarantine due to the married couple sharing a room.
"Nehwal, Prannoy and Jansen tested positive on the PCR [swab] test and their antibodies test was also positive," said a BWF/BAT statement.
"A positive antibodies test means a person has been infected with the virus at some point in the past. It does not mean they are currently infected. The trio all contracted Covid-19 in late 2020. The [organising] committee was satisfied that they are not infected and do not pose a danger to the tournament."
