Badminton camp can be held safely if bio-secure bubble is created, claims former players

The camp at Pullela Gopichand’s Academy in Hyderabad had been shut down for a few days with women’s doubles specialist N Sikki Reddy along with physiotherapist Kiran C testing positive for the Covid-19 virus. Eventually, the results turned out to be an error, with the two concerned tested negative for the virus when conducted once again and the camp resumed. But, the growing number of Covid-19 cases has put the authorities in a spot of bother, even though former players have suggested that camps could be held safely if a bio-secure bubble is created.

"I think having a bio-bubble for the national camp is a good idea. For people who are getting ready for international events, that is the cream of Indian badminton; it makes sense to have them inside in an enclosed area. There are many asymptomatic patients and it is important to have all players at a particular place to minimize the spread of the virus or else how do you know if players are travelling in and out,” said Arvind Bhat, former national champion, as reported by Sportstar

Dinesh Khanna, who won a Gold medal at the 1965 Asian Championships and a Bronze at the 1966 Commonwealth Games, sang along the same lines. As a matter of fact, we have seen the idea of bio-bubble being implemented successfully in European football leagues as well as in Cricket in the United Kingdom, which gives an added incentive to follow suit in India as well. Till now, only four of the top eight Tokyo-Olympic probables turned up, including World Champion P.V. Sindhu.

“It is preferable to have players isolated during a camp because if you are interacting outside the camp then chances of contracting the virus are there. It is such a contagious disease, so there will always be fear,” said Dinesh Khanna.