After COVID-19 scare, BWF says Thailand Open safe to continue

The Thailand Open has been declared safe
to proceed with, after the tournament encountered three coronavirus cases in
the first two days, the Badminton World Federation said on Thursday, AFP
reported.

After the withdrawal of an Egyptian
player, and the hospitalisation of a German coach and a French staff due to
COVID-19, the tournament marking the comeback of badminton at large faced serious
concerns.

Reportedly, Thai health authorities
have allowed the tournament to continue despite three subsequent COVID-19
infections after the aforementioned took place.

“The tournament has been deemed
safe to continue by the Thai health authorities,” AFP quoted the government
body as saying in a statement, which further noted that all players tested on
Tuesday proved to be negative.

“All in the bubble are from all
over the world — we haven’t expected zero cases of COVID-19,” Thai
badminton chief Patama Leeswadtrakul was quoted as saying, referring to the
bio-bubble put in place for organising three consecutive tournaments in Bangkok,
with the sport resuming in 2021 after a pandemic-stricken year.

Leeswadtrakul further stated that there
was quite an intention in part of the authorities to turn the event into a
success. The players, she further said, are in ‘high spirits’.