Sai Praneeth, Dhruv Rawat withdraw from India Open 2022

Both shuttlers have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently isolating.

It seems like the string of withdrawals is not coming to an end at the India Open 2022 as two more players have tested positive for COVID-19. On Thursday, Indian shuttlers B Sai Praneeth and Dhruv Rawat tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The RT-PCR report of both players came back positive before their departure to New Delhi.

Sai Praneeth, who was the bronze medallist from the World Championship 2019, was seeded second in the USD 400,000 tournament. "Yes, I have tested positive for COVID-19 in RT-PCR test. I had cold and cough since yesterday. I am isolating at home," Praneeth told PTI.

"I will have to wait for at least a week before testing again. It is an important year and there is hardly any time to regain fitness. I hope I can get back to court quickly," he added. The general secretary of Badminton Association of India (BAI), Ajay Singhania also confirmed Praneeth’s withdrawal from the Super 500 tournament. 

As far as the withdrawal of doubles player Dhruv Rawat was concerned, he did not have any symptoms before departing for the capital. 

Both players have isolated themselves before they get themselves tested again next week. That means the Indian challenge is likely to lack in men’s singles with Sai Praneeth pulling out of India Open 2022 as he was one of the favourites to win the title alongside his compatriots Srikanth Kidambi and HS Prannoy. 

However, the withdrawal from both Indian players isn’t the first one in the tournament, as earlier on Sunday BAI revealed that the entire English contingent had withdrawn from the tournament. English pair of Ben Lane and Sean Vendy also announced their withdrawal from India Open 2022 as they both had also tested positive along with their coach.

However, the BAI has made it clear that the tournament will begin as scheduled and has no intentions of cancelling it. The first day of the Super 500 tournament of the BWF World Tour will begin on January 11, 2022 in New Delhi.

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