Odisha Open: COVID-19 tests are as per standard protocols, clarifies BAI

As
per
a

BAI
Media
Release,
the
lab
which
is
conducting
the
tests
for
participants
in
the
Odisha
Open
is
an
ICMR
Lab
run
directly
by
the
Government
of
India
and
boasts
of
the
highest
level
of
precision
in
its
protocols.

“This
is
the
third
and
last
tournament
of
the
India
Leg
and
as
per
BWF
protocol,
the
host
country
designated
the
lab
and
in
this
case
ICMR
lab
was
appointed
which
is
the
country’s
best.
As
per
protocol,
BWF
upholds
the
findings
of
this
lab
only.
Similar
process
was
followed
at
the
India
Open
and
Syed
Modi
International
and
no
exception
was
made
at
the
Odisha
Open
as
well,”
BAI
Secretary
Ajay
K
Singhania
said
in
a
statement
on
Wednesday
(January
26).

“BAI
is
also
grateful
to
the
Odisha
Government
for
supporting
the
sport
and
also
hosting
the
tournament
in
these
tough
times,”
Singhania
said,
adding
that
the
facilities
in
Cuttack
have
been
state-of-art.

Saina
Nehwal
top
attraction
in
Odisha
Open
beginning
on
January
25

London
Olympics
bronze
medallist
Saina
Nehwal
is
one
of
the
main
star
attractions
in
the
tournament,
a
BWF
event,
organised
jointly
by
the
state
sports
and
youth
service
department,
BAI
and
its
Odisha
unit.

“It
is
a
matter
of
pride
for
our
state
to
host
such
a
prestigious
sports
event,”
Odisha
sports
minister
T
K
Behera
said.

As
the
tournament
is
played
as
per
the
COVID-19
guidelines,
no
spectators
are
allowed
to
enter
the
stadium.

“COVID-19
tests
of
all
players,
technical
officials
and
volunteers
have
been
conducted,
after
their
arrival
here.
Only
those
found
COVID-19
negative
will
be
allowed
to
enter
the
stadium,”
the
BAI
statement
added.

The
matches
would
be
played
in
five
categories
–
men’s
singles,
women’s
single,
men’s
doubles,
women’s
doubles
and
mixed
doubles.