BAI gains Sports Ministry assurance to host India Open

The Badminton Association Of India (BAI) has been assured of all possible help by the Sports Ministry Of India in order to ensure a successful hosting of India Open.

BWF INDIA OPEN IS A QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 500 event is the first major international sporting tournament to be held in India since the outbreak of the still spreading Covid-19 pandemic. With the Covid-19 protocols still in place in the nation, the hosting of the tournament seemed uncertain, before the Sports Ministry jumped in to assure BAI of all possible help.

India Open shall also act as a qualifying tournament for Tokyo Olympics 2021. Incidentally, this will be the first time since 2012 that India gets a chance to host an Olympic qualifying event. While Sindhu, Rankireddy and Shetty are already set for the mega-event, Srikanth, Nehwal, Kashyap and Prannoy are still hanging on in the qualifying zone.

BAI GS AJAY SINGHANIA SPOKE OF HIS FRUITFUL DISCUSSION WITH RIJIJU

Ajay Singhania, General Secretary of BAI, said that he had explained to the Sports Minister the importance of India Open as an Olympic qualifying event and a meeting spot for top shuttlers of the world. The tournament can only be held if quarantine rules were relaxed for the sake of successful hosting. As per the current international norms, a 72-hour prior test and Covid negative certification were made mandatory instead of 14 days of institutional quarantine.

“I have explained in our letter of request to the honourable sports minister the importance of India Open as this will be an Olympic qualifier where top shuttlers from the world will be keen to participate only if the quarantine rules are relaxed. As per the current international norms a 72-hour prior test and Covid negative certification are made mandatory instead of 14 days of institutional quarantine,” he said.

The BAI General Secretary also spoke of his fruitful discussion with Kiren Rijiju. Stating that the Sports Minister had assured them of all possible help to host the event, he said that they were all committed to bring back competitive badminton in the nation.

“We had a very fruitful discussion with sports minister Kiren Rijiju. He has assured all support and a prompt look to resolve the matter. We are all committed to bringing back the badminton action,” he said.

INDIA OPEN HAS BEEN HELD SINCE 2008

India Open has been held in India since 2008. Its first three editions were designated as Grand Prix Gold events. In 2011, it was upgraded to the BWF Superseries tournament. BWF categorised India Open as one of the seven BWF World Tour Super 500 events as per new BWF events structure since 2018.

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