Carolina Marin pulls out of Malaysia Open 2024 due to flu

Former Olympic champion is expected to be fit for India Open.

Carolina Marin, former Olympic champion and former world number one in women’s singles badminton, has announced that she will not participate in the Malaysia Open 2024, which is scheduled to start on January 9 in Kuala Lumpur.

Marin, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, revealed on X, formerly Twitter that she had tested positive for influenza A, a common type of flu virus, and was recovering at home. She expressed her hope to be fit for the next tournament, the India Open, which will be held in New Delhi from January 16 to 21.

“Unfortunately I can’t compete this week at Malaysia Open. A few days ago I tested positive for influenza A so now I’m recovering and I hope to get ready for India Open,” Marin tweeted on Monday.

The 30-year-old Spanish star had a disappointing 2023 season, winning only one title, the New Orleans Masters, in April. She also lost in the final of the BWF Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China in December, where she was beaten by Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-Ying in a thrilling three-game match.

Marin, who is a three-time world champion and seven-time European champion, was aiming to regain her form and confidence in the Malaysian Open, which is a Super 1000 event and offers valuable ranking points for the Paris Olympics 2024.

However, her withdrawal has dashed her hopes of challenging the top players in the circuit, such as Tai Tzu Ying, China’s Chen Yufei, and Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon.

Marin’s absence will also affect the draw of the Malaysian Open, which features a strong field of players from Asia and Europe.

Marin, who made history by becoming the first European woman to win the Olympic gold medal in badminton at the Rio 2016 Games, will have to recover from her illness and regain her fitness and rhythm before the India Open.

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