Indian contingent cleared to take part in All England Championships | Badminton News – Times of India

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BIRMINGHAM: The Indian badminton contingent has been cleared to participate in the All England Championships after the players, who had tested positive for COVID-19, returned negative in retests conducted by the governing body (BWF) on Wednesday.
Three Indian shuttlers and a support staff had tested positive on Tuesday while a few were awaiting confirmation on their inconclusive samples, leaving the players without much practice ahead of the tournament.
“No positive tests in the team anyone. We are ready for All England,” wrote India’s Danish foreign coach Mathais Boe in a post in Instagram.

In an email to team managers on Wednesday, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton England also informed that “following further investigations and testing, all team members have been returned to the draw having successfully retested negative.”
It also said that “following a higher-than-expected number of inconclusive and positive tests, a full investigation into the testing and laboratory process was conducted in consultation with representatives from Public Health England and the testing companies involved.
“During the process of that investigation, sufficient doubt was raised over the accuracy of the batches of tests submitted by Badminton England, that it was deemed appropriate to retest.
“Following the retest and further investigations, it has been determined that the result of the retest will be one used.”
Earlier, BWF and Badminton England had delayed the start of the event by a couple of hours following a “significant number” of inconclusive COVID-19 test results.
The prestigious Super 1000 tournament was earlier scheduled to start at 9 am GMT.
The Indian campaign was thrown into chaos on Tuesday after reports emerged that three players and a support staff had tested positive for COVID-19.
India’s badminton couple Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap were also left confused less than 24 hours before the start of the tournament after the latter’s tests for COVID-19 came “inconclusive”.
Saina too is waiting for her results for her COVID-19 tests and the duo had taken to Twitter to express their displeasure.

Saina and HS Prannoy had to go through a similar experience in Thailand in January when they had returned positive in a COVID-19 test but was cleared to compete later after further investigation.
Last October, Lakshya Sen alongwith Ajay Jayaram and Shubhankar Dey were forced out of the SaarLorLux Open after DK Sen had tested positive for COVID-19.



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Three Indian shuttlers test positive for COVID-19 ahead of All England Championship | Badminton News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: Three Indian shuttlers have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the All England Championship while a few are awaiting confirmation on their inconclusive samples as India’s campaign has been thrown into chaos before the start of the tournament, starting Wednesday.
A member of the support staff has also tested positive, leaving the players without much practice.
“We have three players and one member from the support staff who have tested positive. I find it completely absurd how this can happen, since we have been isolated in Zurich since the Swiss Open started two weeks ago,” India’s Danish foreign coach Mathais Boe was quoted as saying by sport.tv2.dk.
“We have been tested 5 times in 14 days and all tests have been negative. We have only gotten along with each other, so how can they suddenly test positive?”
The names of the players who have tested positive could not be confirmed.
India’s badminton couple Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap has also been left confused less than 24 hours before the start of the Super 1000 tournament after the latter’s tests for COVID-19 came “inconclusive”.
Saina too is waiting for her results for her COVID-19 tests.
“What kind of testing is this? 31 hours later still inconclusive and a re-test again god knows when … matches start tomorrow!,” Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli wrote in a tweet, tagging the world governing body (BWF).

The London Olympics bronze medallist Saina complained she couldn’t practice for the tournament.
“Ok I have to do this now ! Matches are starting tomorrow at the All England and still no reports of the Covid test done 30hrs before . No practice , no gym .. for 2 days now,” she tweeted.

The 2015 runners-up at All England, Saina had to go through a similar experience in Thailand in January when she had returned positive in a third COVID-19 test but was cleared to compete later after further investigation.



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