Ex-world No.1 Nehwal tests positive for Covid-19 hours before Thailand Open match

By THE NATION

 

Senal Nehwal during a test.

 

India's former world No 1 Saina Nehwal had to withdraw from the US$1-million Thailand Open after she tested positive for Covid-19.

 

The 2012 Thailand Open champion and another Indian player, HS Prannoy, were confirmed to be infected.

 

The result of Nehwal's third test on Monday was positive and was revealed just hours before her first-round match against Kisona Selvaduray of Malaysia. The latter gets a walkover into the next round.

 

The tournament is the first of a three-tournament Asian leg in Thailand including the BWF World Tour finals, all being held at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi province on the outskirts of Bangkok.

 

The 30-year-old Nehwal, currently world No. 20, and Prannnoy have to leave the tournament to be hospitalised.

 

The BWF also confirmed that four players -- two Indians, a German and an Egyptian had tested positive.

 

Nehwal, who won the 2012 Olympic bronze medal in London, became the latest high-profile player to withdraw from the event.

 

Earlier world No 1 Kento Momota of Japan and the No 1 men’s doubles pair of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo cancelled their trip to Thailand due to the same reason.

 

Meanwhile in the first round actions, Thai No 2 Busanan Ongbamrungphan moved past Swiss Sabrina Jaquet 21-6 21-17 in the women’ singles while three-time world junior No 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn rebounded from a second set loss to beat Luis Enrique Penalver of Spain 21-12 19-21 21-16.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30401115

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-12

 

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So much for Thailand's so called strict restrictions on foreign tourist entering the Kingdom, why did they host this championship with foreign players entering the Kingdom?

Thailand’s strict conditions on foreigners entering the Kingdom just stopped another outbreak. 
 

According to her own Twitter account, she arrived in Thailand on January 5th. Plus 15 days, that's January 20th. And her first game on January 12th? 

quite astonishingly, the article manages to not name the sport.

2 minutes ago, Shuya said:

According to her own Twitter account, she arrived in Thailand on January 5th. Plus 15 days, that's January 20th. And her first game on January 12th? 

Authorities have bent the quarantine rules to breaking to enable this tournament to go ahead.

Kudos for writing all this without once mentioning what sport it actually is about ???? Wouldn't know until seeing the pictures in the original article.

 

I think the problem with the quarantine being not followed as mentioned by above posters should be the real story.

49 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

Kudos for writing all this without once mentioning what sport it actually is about ???? Wouldn't know until seeing the pictures in the original article.

 

I think the problem with the quarantine being not followed as mentioned by above posters should be the real story.

 

I know which sport it is.

Denmark used to be really good at it ????

 

As far as the tests.

Yikes man.

Saw a video of one of the participants being nose swapped and that was seriously not a pleasant moment. 

It looked like they showed it way in there and he also reacted badly to it. 

 

I'm not getting a nose swap.

No way José. 

1 hour ago, tgw said:

quite astonishingly, the article manages to not name the sport.

It's as if they are actually complete morons. 

 

Also, why is Thailand hosting an international tournament at this time? 

 

Trying to outdo Celtic FC in the sporting arrogance and idiocy stakes? 

15 hours ago, tgw said:

quite astonishingly, the article manages to not name the sport.

The Asian-leg of badminton’s world tour features 3 tournaments including YONEX Thailand Open (Super 1000), during January 12-17, TOYOTA Thailand Open (Super 1000), during January 19-24, and HSBC World Tour Finals, during January 27-31. (2021)

 

All involve "BIG" money!