Indian shuttler Sai Praneeth out of Thailand Open due to COVID-19 positive test

January 19, 2021

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2019 Badminton World Championships – St. Jakobshalle Basel, Basel, Switzerland – August 24, 2019 India’s Sai Praneeth in action during his semi final men’s singles match against Japan’s Kento Momota REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/Files

Indian shuttler B. Sai Praneeth has been withdrawn from the Thailand Open after testing positive for COVID-19, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday.

BWF said world number 13 Sai Praneeth returned a positive result on Monday and will be in hospital for at least 10 days.

“Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm India player Sai Praneeth B. has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from the TOYOTA Thailand Open,” the BWF said in a statement.

World number 14 Kidambi Srikanth has also withdrawn from the tournament and is in quarantine due to his close contact with Sai Praneeth, BWF said. Srikanth had returned a negative result on Monday.

Last week, India’s Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy were initially withdrawn from the tournament following positive results but were later cleared to play after re-testing.

The Thailand Open is the first tournament of the Asian leg of the BWF World Tour.