Jakarta: After World No. 1 men’s singles player Kento Momota of Japan, and Malaysia’s coaching director Wong Choong Hann have been diagnosed with COVID-19, Indonesia’s World No. 1 men’s doubles player Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo was also tested positive for coronavirus. He and his partner Marcus Fernaldi Gideon were forced to withdraw from the 3 back-to-back BWF World Tour tournaments that will kick off in Bangkok next week.
Doctor Octaviani told badmintonindonesia that Sukamuljo realized he had a sudden loss of smell or taste and was having mild flu-like symptoms on Dec 20, 2020. Sukamuljo was then being tested at Mitra Keluarga Hospital and the result came back as COVID-19 positive.
The 25-year-old was then self-quarantined at home. After eight-day isolation, he went for another test on Dec 31, 2020, and the later test also returned positive.
“Thank you for the prayers and support. Hopefully, I can recover quickly and be able to practice again as before,” said Sukamuljo in the announcement made by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).
“This is also a lesson for me to always be vigilant in the future,” added Sukamuljo.
Besides Sukamuljo and Gideon, everyone in the Indonesian team received negative COVID-19 results and has departed to Bangkok.
