The COVID-19 Task Force Comes To Regret The Badminton Team Was Forced To Leave All England: It Should Be Sports

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Task Force (Task Force) Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito regretted the cancellation of the participation of the Indonesian badminton team at the prestigious All England event.

Wiku said that the government respects British government regulations in handling COVID-19. But it should, this event upholds the principle of sportsmanship.

"Any sporting event will always uphold the principle of sportsmanship which refers to the behavior of respecting, recognizing and tolerating the rights of sports people which creates positive competition without the intention of harming other parties, or without cheating in games or outside the competition," said Wiku. as quoted from the online press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Thursday, March 18.

However, the COVID-19 Task Force continues to ask athletes and official teams leaving for the UK to take part in the event to maintain their health until they return to Indonesia.

"The Task Force hopes that athletes and official teams can continue to be enthusiastic," he said.

Previously reported, Indonesian Manager Ricky Soebagdja stated that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) could not do much when the Indonesian Team was forced to withdraw from All England.

The Indonesian badminton team was forced to withdraw from All England because there were known positive cases on the flight that the Indonesian squad was carrying from Istanbul to Birmingham.

A number of Indonesian squad members received emails from the British Government regarding information that required them to undergo independent isolation for 10 days. This was because someone tested positive on the same flight the Indonesian squad was boarding.

"The email from the British government, the impact on our team and the impact is very, very detrimental. BWF can not do much with the problems we face today," said Indonesian manager Ricky Soebagdja.

Ricky stated that 20 of the 24 people in the Indonesian squad received an email notification from the British government regarding the mandatory 10-day self-isolation.

"There are some of us who did not get an email. The results of the email stated 10 days of isolation. Incidentally after the last time Ahsan / Hendra played, all (the Indonesian squad) had to isolate at the hotel. Once asked to the committee, BWF could not do much because they said rule from the British Government, "said Ricky.