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Updated August 27th, 2020 at 17:43 IST

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy contracts COVID-19, compares himself to Usain Bolt in IG post

Indian shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who is one of eight badminton players among the Olympics hopefuls, announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Reported by: Devika Pawar
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
| Image:self
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Indian doubles shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who was yet to arrive at the national badminton camp in Hyderabad, tested positive for COVID-19. A few days ago, The Sports Authority of India (SAI) administered a test for all Olympic-hopeful athletes. Rankireddy's rapid antigen test came back positive, following which they conducted the RT-PCR test.

Also read | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy says Arjuna Award will fuel Olympic dream, Chirag terms it 'silver lining'

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy tests positive for COVID-19

The 20-year-old, who partners Chirag Shetty, confirmed his COVID-19 result on Instagram. The  2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist compared himself to Olympic great Usain Bolt, who recently tested positive for COVID-19. "All these time I thought I am imitating usainbolt winning style but now only realised I am following his footsteps too," Rankireddy wrote. He added that he is asymptomatic and is glad his family and friends tested negative. 

Also read | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Satwik to wait for 2 weeks before deciding on attending camp in Hyderabad

Rankireddy, who is currently in his hometown Amplapuram, was expected to attend the virtual National Awards. However, after his first test came back positive, the young badminton star decided to not attend. The Arjuna awardee will is currently self-isolating. While talking to the Times of India, Rankireddy explained that he had no symptoms, and the most difficult thing for him is to stay in one room. He was also disappointed that he couldn't attend the awards ceremony. 

Also read | PV Sindhu became World Champion OTD by beating Okuhara in 2019; Relive the historic moment

His father, Kasi Viswanath, also spoke to TOI. Viswanath added that his son was training and showed no signs of any symptoms, which made them question where he contracted the virus from, but he remains asymptomatic. Rankireddy is supposed to take another test in a few days. "I am taking medicines. There are no symptoms, neither my parents nor any friends, none had the virus. So, I don't know from where it has come," he told PTI from Amlapuram. 

Also read | Saina Nehwal yet to join national camp, upset over husband Parupalli Kashyap's exclusion

Satwik and Shetty were recommended for the Arjuna Award together. The pair has previously bagged a Commonwealth Games silver in 2018 and won the Thailand Open Super 500 last year. In an earlier interview, Rankireddy has added that the award has motivated the doubles pair to win at the Olympics next year. "It is extra special as it is my first award. This award has provided a big motivation to work towards our goal of earning a medal at Olympics," he had said.

As of now, Satwik, Shetty, Ashwini Ponnappa and Saina Nehwal are yet to start training at the SAI Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. Shetty is in Mumbai, while Ponnappa is training in Banglore. Nehwal, on the other hand, is training privately at a facility near the Gopichand Academy with her husband Parupalli Kashyap. PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth and N Sikki Reddy have all begun training at the national camp. Sikki tested positive for COVID-19 after her first test, which briefly shut down the Gopichand Academy. However, the academy reopened after her RT-PCR test came back negative. 

(Image credits: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Instagram)

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Published August 27th, 2020 at 17:43 IST

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