Top shuttlers from across the world have hit out at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for taking the novel coronavirus outbreak “too lightly” and putting them at “risk” by going ahead with its international tournaments.
International stars, including Saina Nehwal, former World No 1 Kidambi Srikanth and ex-top 10 players Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, Paruapalli Kashyap and Jan O Jorgensen expressed their concerns and asked the BWF to suspend all its upcoming tournaments.
“I honestly don’t get it! We should not be travelling the world playing badminton,” Denmark’s Vittinghus, said in a post which he has shared on his social media accounts.
He urged the BWF to follow other sporting federations in suspending events.
Vittinghus wrote: “With some tournaments being played, while others are being cancelled, and the Olympic qualifying year still ongoing, players are left with choices between risking not only their own health, but also the health of the ones around them.
“... Or giving up on tournaments, that others choose to play, risking to lose out on not only the Olympics, but also ranking spots that gives access to all the other big events. We should not be put in this position.”
Vittinghus’ post was retweeted by the likes of Saina, Srikanth, former top 10 players Parupalli Kashyap and H S Prannoy and Spanish national coach Fernando Rivas on their respective timelines.
“I dont get it too @bwf media #Coronavirus Pandemic,” tweeted Saina, a former World No 1, who is currently in Birmingham.
Srikanth, too, echoed similar voices.
“I agree with you (Vittinghus) and @bwfmedia should think about players safety,” he wrote. Kashyap tweeted: “Please Wake Up! @bwfmedia.”
“Things to be done by @bwfmedia. 1)Suspend all tournaments immediately 2)Freeze the current ranking and decide on qualification on a later date,” he wrote.
The world body has so far maintained that it has no plans to make any adjustments to the regulations related to the Tokyo Games qualification period and that other events will go as per schedule.