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PETALING JAYA: Women’s singles shuttle S. Kisona will have to play her first round match against India Saina Nehwal at the Yonex Thailand Open after all.
In an unexpected turn of events, Saina has been cleared to compete after testing positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday (January 12).
As such, the first round walkover awarded to Kisona has now been voided and her match against the world No. 20 has been rescheduled on Wednesday (Jan 13), and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is not happy with the World Badminton Federation (BWF Decision).
“BAM would like to place on record the association’s dissatisfaction with the way the BWF is handling certain matters in Bangkok, Thailand,” BAM said in a statement.
He added that BAM notes that the uncertainty of a retraction of a walkover decision combined with the unfortunate timing of receiving such a decision will not bode well for the long-awaited comeback of the sport of badminton.
“While we are pleased that some of these players have tested negative again, it is unfair that any player is being asked to participate in the first round again, especially after the decision to pass was posted on the official website. “.
BWF had said Tuesday that players can continue to play in the tournament as long as they produce a negative test result.
Saina was one of four players who tested positive after a mandatory third screening on Monday.
The other three were HS Prannoy, who is scheduled to face Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia today, Germany’s Jones Ralfy Jansen and Egypt’s Adham Hatem Elgamal.
All four players then underwent a second PCR test and an antibody blood test for further confirmation. Saina, Prannoy and Jansen have been declared negative and allowed to play.
BWF explained that it received the results and reasoned decisions from the Thailand Ministry of Public Health Diagnostic and Research Committee, a task force of six doctors that was formed just for this tournament.
“Nehwal, Prannoy and Jansen all tested positive for PCR, but their IgG antibody was positive.
A positive antibody test means that a person has been infected with the Covid-19 virus at some point in the past, ”he said.
“It does not mean that they are currently infected. The trio contracted Covid-19 in late 2020. The committee was satisfied that they are not infected and do not pose a danger to the tournament,” added the BWF.
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