Forced to exit German event, Jayaram, Dey seek help

New Delhi, October 29

Indian badminton stars Ajay Jayaram and Subhankar Dey were exploring ways to return home to India and appealed for help after being asked to withdraw from the SaarLorLux Open in Germany.

SAI to foot bill of stranded shuttlers

New Delhi: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has come to the rescue of badminton players Subhankar Dey and Ajay Jayaram, who were forced to withdraw from the SaarLorLux Open and then put in quarantine. SAI has agreed to bear the additional expenses incurred due to the forced extended stay in Germany. “The Sports Authority of India will pay for the expenses that are going to be incurred by two Badminton players Ajay Jayaram and Subhankar Dey for the length of their quarantine in Germany from October 30 to November 10, on humanitarian grounds,” SAI said in a statement. “SAI will be paying a total of Rs. 1.46 Lakhs for their hotel stay and food expenses and will release 90 percent of the amount immediately,” the statement added. TNS

The two were put in isolation after contact with Lakshya Sen’s father-coach DK Sen, who had tested positive for coronavirus. The two asked the world and Indian badminton federation for help, and some sort of compensation for the financial loss.

Defending champion Sen had withdrawn from the competition on Wednesday while Jayaram had played and won his first-round match on Monday.

“We have currently been asked to isolate with absolutely no other information from the organisers including our meals. We have our Covid negative certificates, and have NO symptoms. We are unable to contact the German local authorities. We would like to know if it is possible for us to get tested here again and come back to India,” Ajay wrote in a post shared on social media.

He added that they tried contacting the organisers but haven’t got any response yet.

Dey questioned the organising of the tournament over the health and safety measures at the event “… questions need to be raised regarding the tournament management as to why the authorities didn’t enforce submission of Covid certificate immediately upon arrival or a test on arrival at the hotel, the way it was arranged at Denmark Open a week ago. Due to the lack of administration and strict governance, we are unable to compete and also suffering a financial loss,” Dey wrote on his social media page.

A statement by the Badminton World Federation said that the Indians were withdrawn as a precautionary measure after a member of their entourage tested positive for Covid-19. As of now, all three players have tested negative.

Jayaram and Dey are currently in isolation and may have to remain in Germany for longer than the hotel stay planned and might have to bear the extra expenses on their own.

Since their most recent tests were negative, they are looking to get tested again and return to India before the lockdown measures get stricter in Europe. — TNS