India’s badminton star PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the upcoming Denmark Open, which was slated to be held from October 13-18. Sindhu said she might have attended the tournament had the Thomas and Uber Cup wasn’t postponed due to the pandemic.

And since the tournament was postponed, Sindhu said travelling to Denmark is not worth taking the risk given the number of pandemic cases there.

Also Read | PV Sindhu withdraws from Thomas and Uber Cup citing ‘personal reasons’

“Well, if you remember I have even decided originally not to play in the Thomas and Uber Cup but agreed to later on when the top brass of BAI appealed to reconsider it. For, it was the question of representing India in a major championship, I agreed,” Sindhu was quoted by Sportstar, as saying.

“Now, going only for Denmark Open (the Denmark Masters which was to follow this also being cancelled) is not worth taking the risk given the number of pandemic cases there,” the Rio Olympics silver medallist said.

“And, if I were to play in the Denmark Open on my return back home I would have to be self-quarantined for 14 days which again would have meant a break in my training,” she explained.

Also Read | Badminton player Saina Nehwal begins training after coronavirus-induced break

The Thomas and Uber Cup in Denmark was on Tuesday postponed to next year by the Badminton World Federation following a wave of withdrawals by top teams due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

India had announced both the men’s and women’s squads for the prestigious event which was scheduled to be held in Aarhus, Denmark from October 3 to 11.

However, after Indonesia and South Korea on Friday joined Thailand, Australia, Chinese Taipei and Algeria in pulling out due to the dreaded disease, the sport’s governing body held a virtual emergency council meeting on Sunday.

Also Read | PV Sindhu, other shuttlers resume Tokyo Olympics training after COVID-19 forced break

“The Badminton World Federation (BWF), in full consultation and agreement with local host Badminton Denmark, has made the tough decision to postpone the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 in Aarhus, Denmark,” BWF said in a statement.

“BWF is looking into possible alternative dates to reschedule the World Men’s and Women’s Team Championships, but on dates not before into 2021.” BWF had tried to rope in Singapore and Hong Kong as a replacement but they declined the invitation.

Among top players, India’s Saina Nehwal had on Sunday raised concerns about the timing of the event, asking whether it would be safe to go ahead with it in the middle of the pandemic.

Saina, alongwith Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu, were supposed to lead the 10-member women’s team in Uber Cup, while former world no.1 Kidambi Srikanth would have spearheaded the Indian men’s campaign in Thomas Cup.