Hindutan ab tak special
Badminton action set to return with Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2021, to be held behind closed doors
Delhi Government will conduct RT-PCR test on arrival on May 3 and 6 as well as on May 9 and 14. Badminton Association of India (BAI) will provide one additional meal of choice for all participants, officials and support staff members during the quarantine period.
“We are really happy to finally be able resume badminton action and host such top shuttlers from across the world. But with the recent spike in cases, we have to be more cautious. Players’ safety has always been of prime importance and our top priority and this tournament will be no different. We will be implementing and following strict COVID-19 protocols and guidelines as shared by Government of India and Delhi Government,” Organising Secretary and General Secretary of BAI Ajay Singhania said.
“We understand spectators have been an integral part of our growth story but this year despite it being an Olympic qualifier and an array of star shuttlers in action, we have to take the decision of conducting the tournament in a bio bubble. We hope fans and media will understand the challenges and support us. We will be using all our digital handles to broadcast and interact with fans and bring the players and fans much closer,” Singhania added.
Three-time world champion Marin will lead the women’s singles category along with other Top-10 shuttlers Akane Yamaguchi, 2019 World Champion PV Sindhu, Korea’s An Se-Young and Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, alongside the former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal of India.
India boasts of the largest contingent with 48 players (27 women and 21 men) while Malaysia has fielded the second largest squad with 26 shuttlers which includes 10 women and 16 men. 10 shuttlers (4 women and 6 men) from China are also part of the participants list.
India’s men’s doubles challenge will be spearheaded by World No. 10 pairing of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy while Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy will aim for valuable Olympic qualification points in women’s doubles. Ponnappa will also partner Satwik in the mixed doubles category which sees Japanese pair of Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino leading the list of six Top-10 combinations in fray.
ENDS