Indian Badminton players start Training in Thailand after clearing COVID-19 Test

The entire Indian badminton contingent have been given the green signal to begin training for the YONEX Thailand Open after all of them cleared COVID-19 test on Wednesday.

The Asia leg in Thailand has two Super 1000 events. One is the Yonex Thailand Open (January 12-17) and the other is the Toyota Thailand Open (January 19-24). These will be followed by the USD 1,500,000 HSBC BWF World Tour Finals (January 27-31).

“The Asian Leg in Bangkok received a boost with all 824 participants in the Green Zone quarantine bubble testing negative for COVID-19,” BWF said in a statement.

“Players are now cleared for training under strict safety protocols.”

Training timings have been allotted to all the Indian team members including B Sai Praneeth, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. The players also underwent their first gym session on Wednesday afternoon.

“Indian Team will be resuming their training from today, the Gym timings allotted are from 2-3pm and the training time is 7-8PM,” BAI media tweeted.

Even though the players will have the access to physios in their room, they will have to take prior appointment as stated in the protocols put in place for the tournament.

“The strict procedures allow athletes to see their physios in their rooms once practice commences. A special procedure/appointment is needed for any personnel leaving their room to visit the practice hall, or in the case of a physio, the athlete they treat.”

It has been reported that Saina Nehwal had requested to meet her physio on Tuesday. But she lashed out on the governing body later on for denying athletes their access to physios and trainers.

“Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) and BWF got a request from Saina Nehwal via BAI seeking permission for Saina Nehwal to see her physio,” BWF said in an official response.

“BAT informed BAI and Saina Nehwal of the protocol in the Prospectus and informed her that there is a procedure in place to allow athletes to see their physios in their rooms only once practice has commenced (on 6 January).”

The apex body stated that “the Prospect clearly states that all athletes and personnel here in the Green Bubble in Bangkok must stay in their room until practice commences on 6 January.

“The Prospectus was communicated to all participants and the Member Associations way in advance of the tournament.”

The body also mentioned that the quarantine rules and protocols will be in place for the entire duration of the 14-day quarantine period including the staging duration of the Yonex Thailand Open.

“More routine COVID-19 tests will follow with strict safety protocols to remain in place until the end of the Asian Leg.”