JAKARTA - The only Indonesian representative from the mixed doubles sector Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti will certainly not be able to maintain the All England title this year because they have to withdraw suddenly due to the COVID-19 health protocol.
They are supposed to play the first round of Yonex All England 2021 against representatives of India Dhruv Kapila/Jakkampudi Meghana at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England on Wednesday evening local time (Thursday morning Indonesian Time).
Unfortunately, the All England 2020 champion was forced to withdraw from this prestigious tournament because, during a flight from Istanbul to Birmingham on Saturday (13/3), one of the passengers tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Indonesian Team Manager Ricky Soebagdja, according to British government regulations, if you are on the same plane as a person who is positive for COVID-19, you are required to undergo isolation for 10 days.
That way, the Indonesian team was forced to withdraw and carry out isolation until March 23, 2021, at the Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Center, starting 10 days from the team's arrival to Birmingham on Saturday (13/3).
"This is an extremely painful and disappointing incident for all of us", said Ricky in an official statement from the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) received by Antara in Jakarta, Thursday.
Apart from Praveen/Melati, two other Indonesian representatives also canceled their matches.
Men's singles Anthony Sinisuka Ginting should fight against French representative Thomas Rouxel, while men's doubles fifth seed Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto is scheduled to meet Nigerian pair Godwin Olofua/Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori.
But previously, four Indonesian representatives had already played their first match and won. Men's singles fifth seed Jonatan Christie beat Thai Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-13, 24-22.
Then, the men's doubles first seed Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo won the rubber game 21-12, 19-21, 21-9 against the host pair Matthew Clare/Ethan Van Leeuwen.
The second pair Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan's men's doubles also won over Ben Lane/Sean Vendy in a rubber game with a score of 21-18, 19-21, 21-19.
Meanwhile, the women's doubles seeded third Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu won after their opponents, the German pair Kilasu Ostermeyer/Franziska Volkmann, withdrew (walkover).
However, because the Indonesian team was on the same plane, they were forced to retreat and isolate themselves, so they could not continue the match.
The Indonesian badminton team departed for Birmingham, England on Friday (12/3) at 21.40 p.m. local time using a Turkish Airlines plane with logging number TK57 and landed on Saturday (13/3) afternoon local time.
Based on the results of the PCR swab test carried out when they arrived in Birmingham, Saturday (13/3), the Indonesian team tested negative for COVID-19.
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