Toyota Thailand Open: Srikanth Kidambi tests negative for COVID-19


Toyota Thailand Open: Srikanth Kidambi tests negative for COVID-19
Kidambi Srikanth
Kidambi Srikanth

The second day of the ongoing Toyota Thailand Open started on a winning note for the Indian shuttlers. Another good news for the Indian camp came as ace player Kidambi Srikanth tested negative for COVID-19.

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On Wednesday, Indian player Sai Praneeth tested positive for the dreaded virus and pulled out of the tournament. His roommate and fellow shuttler, Kidambi Srikanth was also forced to withdraw despite testing negative. He had cruised into the second round after beating Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin in a straight game win. While Praneeth was slated to play his opening fixture on Wednesday.

Srikanth will have to serve out the mandatory quarantine period

Kidambi Srikanth

Former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth tested negative for COVID-19 on Thursday. However, he will still have to serve out the mandatory quarantine period before returning to India.

The 2013 Thailand Open winner took to social media to announce the news. “I had to pull out of the BWF Thailand Open to stay in line with BWF health and safety protocols, after my roommate tested +ve. I have however tested negative and I look forward to finishing my quarantine,” he wrote.

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Interestingly, before the start of the first leg of Thailand Open, Indian players Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy had tested positive and had to pull out of the contest. Nehwal’s husband and roommate Parupalli Kashyap was also kept under observation. But soon it emerged that the positive tests were false and all the concerned athletes were reinstated.

Also Read: Toyota Thailand Open: Sai Praneeth tests positive for COVID-19; roommate Kidambi Srikanth forced to pull out