FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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All shuttlers test negative for next week’s Thailand Open

All shuttlers test negative for next week’s Thailand Open

All participants who have arrived for next week’s Yonex Thailand Open in Bangkok have tested negative for Covid-19, boosting hopes for the Badminton World Federation tour’s Asian leg.

The Super 1000 tournament at Impact Arena from January 12-17 has a total purse of $1 million (Bt29.9 million) but has been hit by the withdrawal of China, Japan and Indonesia’s world No 1 men's doubles team of Kevin Sanjaya and Marcus Gideon, after Sanjaya tested positive for Covid-19.

However, a total of 824 players, entourages and staff tested negative before departure to Thailand and then again in their Bangkok quarantine hotels.

Local players, staff and personnel based in Thailand were also tested and quarantined as part of the so-called Green Zone bubble. Players are now cleared for training under strict safety protocols. The 14-day quarantine will be in place during the tournament, which will take place without spectators.

The Yonex Thailand Open will be followed by the Toyota Thailand Open from January 19-24, also at Impact. The two events are the final qualifying tournaments for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, to be held from January 27-31 at the same venue.

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