Indian badminton gamers are likely to travel to Malaysia subsequent month via Doha, Qatar, for the Malaysia Open and subsequently travel to Singapore for the Singapore Open in June, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) mentioned on Thursday (April 29).
The two tournaments are the final occasions which can be included within the Olympic qualification calendar after the postponement of the Indian Open this month due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic within the nation.
Doubts arose over whether or not Indians would give you the chance to take part within the Malaysian Open due to the nation imposing a short lived ban on flights from India. The event is scheduled to be held from May 25 to 30 whereas the Singapore Open is slated to be held from June 1 to 6.
“With the current travel restrictions, Indian players will not be able to take direct flights. We have checked for via routes and the alternatives are either from Sri Lanka or from Doha and Indian Shuttlers are most likely to travel via Qatar,” mentioned the BAI.
“Considering the current travel restrictions, Badminton Association of India (BAI) has written to the respective Associations of Malaysia and Singapore for clarity on what will be the exact regulations that will be applied to Indian shuttlers while they arrive in these respective countries,” it additional added.
Players can have to endure a 14-day quarantine interval in Malaysia whereas for coming into Singapore, they solely want to have gone by means of a 14-day quarantine interval in a rustic aside from India. It implies that Indian gamers can go to Singapore immediately from Malaysia and participate within the event with out having to spend a separate 14-day quarantine.
It additionally implies that the Indians can have to arrive in Malaysia at the least on May 10. While PV Sindhu, B Sai Praneeth and males’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have nearly ensured qualification due to their rating within the Race to Tokyo rankings, the Malaysia and Singapore occasions would be the final probability for Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth to safe qualification. Saina, who received India’s first Olympic medal within the sport in 2012, is ranked twenty second whereas former world No.1 Srikanth is twentieth. Both gamers want to be inside the high 16 to safe qualification.
“We have already submitted the travel documents of our Olympic-bound and Olympic Probable players ( PV Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Chirag Shetty, Satwik, Saina Nehwal, Srikanth, Ashwini Ponnappa, and Sikki Reddy) and officials for Visa processing. Though there is a ban on the issue of Visa for Indians except for Sports-related travel activities, Visa is available on certain terms and conditions. We are in touch with the Member Associations of Malaysia & Singapore for the necessary documentation,” mentioned the BAI.
(with IANS inputs)
