PETALING JAYA: The Indonesian badminton group has withdrawn from the World Championships which begins on Sunday (Dec 12) in Huelva, Spain.
All-Indonesian Badminton Federation (PBSI), in an announcement Wednesday (Dec 8), mentioned the choice was taken due to the concerns over the outbreak of the Omicron Covid-19.
“The speedy unfold of the Omicron prompted us to withdraw from the World Championships,” mentioned PBSI growth and efficiency division head Rionny Mainaky.
“We don’t need to take any dangers. The security and well being of athletes are extra essential. We have mentioned with the gamers and so they agreed to pull out.”
The withdrawal of the Indonesian stars is a large blow for the world meet, particularly within the males’s doubles competitors the place they boast three extremely seeded pairs.
They are prime seeds Kevin Sanjaya-Marcus Fernaldi, second seeds and defending champions Mohammad Ahsan Hendra Setiawan and sixth seeds Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto.
The different notable contenders embrace the fifth seeded Anthony Ginting and seventh-seeded Jonatan Christie within the males’s singles, Olympic champions and sixth seeds Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu in ladies’s doubles.
