Thailand Open: Saina Nehwal, HS Prannoy test negative for COVID-19 hours after positive results, now cleared to play

Bangkok: India’s top shuttlers Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy on Tuesday tested negative for COVID-19 hours after returning positive results, 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. “Both Saina Nehwal and HS 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.

Shuttlers @NSaina and @PRANNOYHSPRI have tested negative in the final test and have been given green flag to participate in the tournament. Timely intervention of BAI ensured with all support from BWF and other stakeholders have made this possible.

Detailed statement below👇 pic.twitter.com/tMzB3BmvRm

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) January 12, 2021

“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. Earlier in the day, chaos 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 in a bizarre turn of events.