Sai Praneeth out of Thailand Open due to COVID-19 positive test

FILE PHOTO: Badminton - Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships - Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham - 10/3/16 India's B Sai Praneeth lies on the court during the round of 16 Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers

(Reuters) - Indian shuttler B. Sai Praneeth has been withdrawn from the Thailand Open after testing positive for COVID-19, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday.

BWF said world number 13 Sai Praneeth returned a positive result on Monday and will be in hospital for at least 10 days.

"Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm India player Sai Praneeth B. has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from the TOYOTA Thailand Open," the BWF said in a statement.

World number 14 Kidambi Srikanth has also withdrawn from the tournament and is in quarantine due to his close contact with Sai Praneeth, BWF said. Srikanth had returned a negative result on Monday.

Last week, India's Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy were initially withdrawn from the tournament following positive results but were later cleared to play after re-testing.

The Thailand Open is the first tournament of the Asian leg of the BWF World Tour.

(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)