Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth in Round 2

Nehwal registers 21-15, 21-15 victory over Malaysia’s Kisona, while Kidambi beats compatriot Sourabh Verma 21-12, 21-11; Kashyap retires due to calf strain

Star India shuttler Saina Nehwal and former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth entered the second rounds of their respective events, but Parupalli Kashyap made an early exit from the Thailand Open Super 1000 tournament, here on Wednesday. Nehwal got the better of Selvaduray Kisona of Malaysia 21-15, 21-15 in the women’s singles opening round to set up a clash with Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan. 

Nehwal thanks doctors

Nehwal, who was first forced to withdraw from the event for positive COVID-19 results on Tuesday but later returned a negative test, thanked the Badminton World Federation officials and doctors for allowing her to participate. “Yesterday, I was given a positive COVID-19 result after my PCR test but I already told them that I had COVID-19 last November, so I have antibodies. I tried to explain this to the doctor and after my blood tests and chest X-rays the doctor said I was OK and I don’t have COVID-19,” Nehwal said after her win.

Kidambi Srikanth

“I am thankful to the doctors, the BWF and everyone who made the decision for me to play. It was a tiring day but I am happy I could come back and play my match.” 
Earlier in the day, Srikanth took just 31 minutes to prevail over compatriot Sourabh Verma 21-12, 21-11 in the men’s singles, but Kashyap was forced to retire midway in his opening-round match against Jason Anthony Ho-Shue of Canada. 

Kashyap was trailing 8-14 in the third game when he chose to retire after pulling his calf muscle. He had lost the first game 9-21 before making a comeback to take the second 21-13. Srikanth next plays Malaysia’s Zii Jia Lee, who beat HS Prannoy 13-21, 21-14, 21-8.

Sameer bows out

Sameer Verma too made a first round exit after losing 15-21, 17-21 to Shesar Hiren Rhustavito of Indonesia. 

BWF assures more comfortable testing

Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Wednesday said it is working with Thailand Open organisers to ensure “comfortable” COVID-19 testing conditions during the tournament after Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth was left with a bloodied nose following a test. Srikanth got a bloodied nose after undergoing multiple COVID-19 tests.

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