Indonesia's badminton team eliminated due to COVID-19 contact tracing. Protests from political and sports world. Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) President Agung Firmansah Sampurna: “We are convinced that we could be the winners of the competition. The decision was made to block our opportunity. England is our biggest competitor. "
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The whole Indonesian badminton team is in shock, following the official communication issued by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton England, of the exclusion of the Jakarta badminton team from the All England Open 2021, due to the tracking and tracing of contacts with Covid-19. The British Health Service (NHS) has also asked all Indonesian badminton players and their companions to implement self-isolation protocols.
The notice is issued on 17 March (18 March Jakarta time) with immediate effect.
“In accordance with UK Government requirements, the entire team will self-isolate for 10 days from the date of their inbound flight after a person travelling onboard tested positive for COVID-19,” the official statement says and today has been circulating in Indonesia mainstream media.
“All Indonesian players will not be able to compete in the current or next round of the tournament and have therefore been withdrawn from the YONEX All England Championships. While we regret this unfortunate consequence, BWF and Badminton England will continue to follow all protocols required by the UK Government and the local health authorities to ensure the safety of all participants,” the written statement adds.
The notice issued on March 17 (March 18 Jakarta time) with immediate effect reads: "In accordance with the requirements of the UK government, the entire team will self-isolate for 10 days from the date of arrival, as a person on board tested positive for COVID-19 ". “All Indonesian players - continues the statement - will not be able to compete in the tournament and have therefore been withdrawn. While we regret this unfortunate consequence, BWF and Badminton England will continue to follow all protocols required by the UK government and local health authorities to ensure the safety of all participants. "
The announcement was heavily criticized in Indonesia.
Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali expressed his anguish response to this decision. He harshly criticized the decision and highlighted a sense of "abnormal" reasons.
"We are deeply sorry - he said in a recorded video message circulating in Jakarta - to learn that unfair treatment has hit our team (since I was told that a badminton player from another country was covid-19 positive in same plane) and such a fact (if valid) is deplorable ".
Indonesian Prime Minister Retno Marsudi also expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision.
The Indonesian embassy in London has asked the All England authority for clarification on the fact that the decision is not related to a racial issue.
Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) President Agung Firmansah Sampurna has raised a protest, saying the treatment is unfair and eliminates our national team, a potential winner of the competition. “With our preparation - he said - we are convinced that we could be the winners of the competition. The decision was made to hinder our progress. England is our biggest competitor. "