MALAYSIAN shuttlers were among the participants kept waiting as the start of the All England in Birmingham yesterday had to be delayed for a few hours due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases.
A statement issued by the sport's world governing body, said: "The Badminton World Federation and Badminton England can confirm that a significant number of Covid-19 tests conducted for participating teams at the All England Championships were deemed 'inconclusive' and as a result, the samples will be rerun.
"BWF can also confirm a small number of positive tests were recorded and in agreement with Public Health England, these cases will be retested. These cases will continue to self-isolate while they are being retested."
Fortunately, no one from the Malaysian camp in Birmingham was infected by the virus.
Since the pandemic started early last year, no Malaysian players, officials and coaches (from badminton) have tested positive except for BAM Coaching Director Wong Choong Hann who contracted Covid-19 two months back.
BAM have implemented a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) for their players as they undergo quarantined-based training programme.
In January, many top players from around the world were unhappy and called it "military-like" when the Thai government put in place its SOP for the Asian leg of the World Tour in Bangkok.
As a result, organisers of badminton competitions in Europe were "less strict" in their Covid measures, starting with the Swiss Open in Basel earlier this month.
But as Covid positive cases appeared at the All England, the calls for "stricter" measures are bound to grow louder.
After the latest Covid scare at the All-England, fans wonder what type of safety measures will be taken at the Malaysia Open on May 25-30 and the Singapore Open on June 1-6
Inevitably, a range of precautions will be in place at the Malaysia Open. However, it is a question of how strict the SOP will be.
Looking at what is happening at the All England, BAM will not want to court trouble.