Sikki, physio test negative for virus

The pair had tested positive for the virus earlier in the week and was asymptomatic, following which the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, where the camp was being held, was closed for sanitisation. “Shuttler Sikki and physiotherapist Kiran, who had tested positive for COVID-19, took the RT PCR test again and both have tested negative,” the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said in a statement on Saturday. “The decision to test them again was taken because both were asymptomatic and even their family members were COVID-19 negative.” Following the fresh test results, national team coach Pullela Gopichand said, “Since all of them are COVID-19 negative, we have decided to go ahead with the camp. Training will begin at the academy on August 17.” The national camp had begun on August 7. Apart from Sikki, the players in the camp include PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, men’s doubles pairing of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and doubles specialist Ashwini Ponnappa.