All Indian players were forced to withdraw from the SaarLorLux Open after DK Sen, Lakshya Sen’s father and coach, tested positive for Covid-19. The entire Indian team has been placed under isolation.
Subhankar Dey claims SaarLorLux Open organisers did not check his Covid-19 test report upon arrival at Saarbrucken. This raises questions whether health safety protocols are strictly followed in the ongoing tournament.
Dey, who was reported travelling with Ajay Jayaram, was not asked to submit their Covid-19 test report when they arrived at their hotel in Saarbrucken.
They were allowed to practice in the main hall of the tournament and move around freely with “no enforcement of the submission of the test.”
“Now they are asking us to stay for seven more days. We want the BWF (Badminton World Federation) or organisers to take care of us. It’s not our fault. Due to their failure of not enforcing the rules, we are suffering. They have to compensate us,” Dey told Times of India.
Recommended: 3 Indian players pull out of the ongoing SaarLorLux Open as coach tests positive for Covid-19
Dey further showed his frustration on his social media account by saying, “Due to the lack of administration and strict governance, we are unable to compete and also suffering a financial loss.”
“So everyone including Lakshya and his father had been inside the hall with other players for practice on Monday. We happened to have one meal in the same restaurant post the practice session. I and Ajay are not staying in the hotel where Lakshya and his father are staying. How can they isolate us?”, Dey cried foul at BWF.
Dey further added that Jayaram and himself took Covid-19 tests 48 hours before arriving in Frankfurt, but Sen and his father got tested only on Tuesday.
Ajay Jayaram also wrote on his Instagram: “Owing to one of the players failing to follow the Covid protocols set in place, I and Subhankar have found ourselves in an unfortunate situation where we were forced to pull out of the SaarLorLux Open.”