Covid halts Praneeth and Srikanth run in Thailand
Bangkok, Jan. 20: Indian shuttler B. Sai Praneeth, one of the frontrunners to represent country at the Tokyo Olympics, has pulled out of the ongoing Thailand Open Super 1000 badminton 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“Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm India player Sai Praneeth B has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from the TOYOTA Thailand Open,” the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday night.
However, Thai health authorities, Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) and BWF, restricted “the movement and schedule of the rest of the India team as per tournament protocol,” which will be in place for 14 days till February 1.
Indian shuttler H S Prannoy battled through pain in his ribcage and a shoulder injury to stun Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie in the opening round of the Thailand Open Super 1000 tournament here on Wednesday.
A former top 10 player, Prannoy showed great resilience in the men’s singles competition and didn’t let the physical discomfort disturb his focus, outwitting the world number seven Christie 18-21, 21-16, 23-21 in a thrilling contest that clocked an hour and 15 minutes.
It is Prannoy’s first win against the sixth seeded Indonesian in last four attempts. Prannoy and Sameer Verma will carry India’s charge in the men’s singles.
Among other Indians in the fray, the men's doubles pair of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila beat New Zealand’s combination of Oliver Leydon-Davis and Abhinav Manota 23-21, 21-17 to enter the second round.
However, the women’s doubles pair of N. Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa bowed out after losing 11-21, 19-21 to German duo of Linda Efler and Isabel Herttrich. —
PRANNOY DIGS DEEP TO STUN WORLD NO.7