New Delhi: The national badminton camp in Hyderabad for Thomas and Uber Cup Final scheduled for October was scrapped on Thursday.
It was scrapped after it became clear that players would not get any relaxation on the mandatory seven-day quarantine period, reported Outlook India.
The camp was originally scheduled to start on September 7 and conclude on September 27 for the event set on October 3 to 11 in Aarhus, Denmark. It was proposed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at the SAI Pullela Gopichand Academy.
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, SAI wanted all the 26 players to be in quarantine for at least a week before training, an idea which was rejected by the players and Badminton Association of India (BAI).
“SAI had made it clear that it can’t make any concession on the quarantine protocols and left it to BAI to decide on the camp. So after deliberation, it was decided today that it will be difficult for players to follow it,” Vimal Kumar, one of the selectors, was quoted as saying by Outlook India.
“So players will have to practice and continue in their respective centres and report to Hyderabad before departure for the event.”
The former India chief coach reportedly admitted that it would be tough to select a team without a camp or trial.
However, top players, who are mostly from Hyderabad, were against the idea and voiced their reluctance to stay at the academy to SAI in a video conference.
While many players have already reached Hyderabad for the camp, several outstation shuttlers like Malvika Bansod and Ashmita Chaliha were asked to wait by BAI.
