Thailand Open: B Sai Praneeth withdraws after testing COVID-19 positive

Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth, one of the frontrunners to represent the country at the Tokyo Olympics, has pulled out of the ongoing Toyota Thailand Open Super 1000 tournament after testing positive for COVID-19 here.

Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth, who was sharing the room with Praneeth, was also forced to withdraw as per protocols laid down by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

“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been withdrawn from the TOYOTA Thailand Open,” the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday night.

“The player produced a positive result to a mandatory PCR test conducted on Monday. It is confirmed positive.

“The player has been taken to hospital for further observation and testing, and is required to stay in hospital for a minimum of 10 days.”

BWF said Praneeth had been “rooming with teammate Kidambi Srikanth at the official hotel” and so he too had to withdraw from the tournament.