Sikki Reddy tests Positive of COVID-19 during training at Gopichand Academy

sikki reddy @inbadmintonclub

HYDERABAD: Shuttler N Sikki Reddy and physiotherapist Kiran C tested positive for coronavirus, forcing the Pullela Gopicahand Badminton Academy to close.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) said on Thursday. Women's doubles specialist Sikki and Kiran, who have been attending the national camp at the academy, are both asymptomatic, according to a SAI statement. They had undergone the SAI's mandatory COVID-19 test for players, coaches and support staff before the start of training on August 7 at the facility.

This came after the hospitalisation of six hockey players, including Indian captain Manpreet Singh, who tested positive upon reaching the National Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to report for their camp last week. The SAI statement said Reddy and Kiran were asymptomatic."This came to light after they look SAI's mandatory Covid test that is given to all players, coaches and support staff on arriva," SAI said. "All primary contacts of Sikki and kiran have been traced and are being given the RT-PCR test again."

"SAI's mandatory COVID test was given to all athletes, coaches, support staff and administrative staff at the badminton national camp, and two campers have tested positive for COVID-19," chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand said.

"All necessary precautions as per protocol are being taken so that players can come back for training safely and as soon as possible."

Both Sikki and Kiran are from Hyderabad and have been attending the camp from their homes.

As part of the procedure, the national campers have to sign a written declaration “acknowledging the risks associated with restarting practice amidst the pandemic”. Besides, SAI also says that it “cannot guarantee the complete elimination of risks posed by Covid-19 through the implementation of the precautions and protocols identified by the centre”.

The badminton camp was allowed by SAI for eight Olympic hopefuls, including Rio Games silver-medallist and world champion PV Sindhu, following the approval from the Telangana government on August 1.

Six Indian men's hockey team players, including skipper Manpreet Singh, had recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bengaluru.

However, SAI said there are no guidelines provided to athletes when they are at home or while they are travelling. The badminton players, who are training at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, travel to the venue every day and are not living on-campus like the rest. “These are unprecedented times,” SAI said, “and every decision taken by SAI at its National Camps have been directed by a single-point intention of keeping everyone in the camps, especially athletes and coaches, safe.