Thailand Open: Saina Nehwal, HS Prannoy test negative for COVID-19

Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy had tested positive for COVID-19 in the first test but now both can participate in the Thailand Open after the retests turned out negative.

Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy have been cleared for the YONEX Thailand Open after their COVID-19 tests turned out negative. Earlier, both were removed from the tournament as they had tested positive. Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed the development. "Both Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy have been cleared to participate in the ongoing Yonex Thailand Open after the fourth-round tests reports confirmed that both shuttlers have been tested negative for Covid-19," BAI said.

Earlier Commonwealth Games Champion Parupalli Kashyap too had to withdraw from the tournament as his wife, Saina Nehwal had tested positive then. Kashyap's test results are awaited. The confusion occurred because the players' antibody IgG had tested positive due to which they were retested. If a person's antibody test is positive, it means that the person is either currently positive or had been in the past due to which the body's immunity turned active. The BWF cleared the confusion by saying that the players who had earlier tested positive for the virus are "not currently infected".