SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew has reached the final of the Indian Open badminton tournament after his opponent dropped out of the semifinals on Saturday (Jan 14).
Loh was meant to face Canadian Brian Yang, who was reportedly ill.
He will face India’s Lakshasen in Sunday’s final.
The tournament in New Delhi has been hit by COVID-19, with several players withdrawing in recent days after testing positive.
In mixed doubles, Singapore’s Terry Hee Yong Kai and Tan Wei Han also entered the semifinals after their opponents, Russians Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova, dropped out of the semifinals. finals.
One of them tested positive for COVID-19.
“The player returned a positive result in the mandatory RT-PCR test conducted on Friday,” the Badminton World Federation announced at a press conference on Saturday, although it did not name the player.
“His doubles partner has been identified as a close contact and has also withdrawn. Their opponents will be eliminated into the final.”
There is also a knockout round in the women’s doubles competition.
Ekaterina Markova and Anastasia Shapovalova’s teams pulled out in the semi-final against their Russian compatriots Anastasia Akchurina and Austria Erga Morozova, who will now advance to the final.
Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min dropped out of the quarterfinals on Friday after experiencing a “high fever”. The Badminton Association of Singapore said she tested negative for COVID-19 in a rapid antigen test.
