Saina, Pranoy Test COVID-19 Negative; Cleared for Thailand Opens

NEW DELHI: A day of uncertainties and chaos finally came to an end when top Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy on Tuesday tested negative for COVID-19 paving the way for their participation in the Thailand Open after being forced out of the tournament.

Both the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed the development a day after Nehwal was declared positive for the virus and referred to a hospital in Bangkok for 10-day isolation.

"Both Nehwal and Prannoy have been cleared to participate in the ongoing Yonex Thailand Open after the fourth-round tests reports confirmed that both shuttlers have been tested negative for COVID-19," BAI said in a statement.

"BAI have taken up the matter with topmost BWF officials to ensure if tests were negative, matches for respective players should be rescheduled and no walkover is given," the national body added.

Uncertainty gripped India's campaign at the tournament when Saina was forced out following a positive COVID-19 test, while Prannoy's participation hung in balance after his sample came out negative following a positive result.

Nehwal’s husband and fellow Indian player P Kashyap was also advised to be in self-quarantine even after he tested negative in the retest of the same specimens in the third round of testing on Monday.