India Open 2022: Seven Shuttlers Test Positive for Covid-19, Several Withdrawn From Tournament

India Open 2022: The doubles partners of the players who were deemed to be in close contact with the positive players have also been withdrawn from the tournament. 

Seven badminton players at India Open 2022 test positive for Covid-19. | (File Photo/ Getty Images)

Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed that seven players have been withdrawn from the India Open 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19. The news comes amid the rising cases of Covid-19 in the national capital. 

The doubles partners of the players who were deemed to be in close contact with the positive players have also been withdrawn from the tournament. 

The opponents of the players who have tested positive will get a walkover in the first round and will directly compete in the second round of the tournament. The BWF confirmed the news in a press statement on Wednesday.

🚨 Seven players have tested positive for COVID-19 at the #IndiaOpen2022.#BWFWorldTour https://t.co/8OBR6PJ8yH

— BWF (@bwfmedia) January 12, 2022

"Testing protocols have been implemented in accordance with Badminton World Federation and Badminton Association of India guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all participants," the BWF said in the statement. 

The Indian players had a good day in the first round. India's ace shuttlers, PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth eased their way through to the second round, while Saina Nehwal got lucky as her opponent, Czech Republic’s Tereza Svabikova retired hurt after winning the first round. 

HS Prannoy too registered an easy win. Ashmita Chaliha of Assam also won an upset in the first round. The second round of matches will take place today. 

All the matches of the tournament are being played at the KD Jadhav Hall in New Delhi.