Ajay Jayaram, Subhankar Dey in isolation; SAI to fund their stay | Badminton News – Times of India

Indian shuttlers Subhankar Dey and Ajay Jayaram are a worried duo as they have to stay in Saarbrucken after being told to isolate themselves for coming in contact with Lakshya Sen‘s father DK Sen.
Much to their relief, Sports Authority of India (SAI) decided to fund their boarding and lodging. “SAI will pay for the expenses that are going to be incurred by Ajay Jayaram and Subhankar Dey from Oct 30 to Nov 10. SAI will be paying a total of Rs 1.46 lakh…and will release 90% of the amount immediately…SAI is in constant touch with the Indian consulate in Frankfurt to facilitate the situation involving the two players,” SAI said in a release.
It may be mentioned here that the government is already funding Lakshya, his coach and physio.

The duo was forced to withdraw along with defending champion Lakshya from the SaarLorLux Open late on Wednesday. Subhankar and Ajay have written to the organisers of the Super-100 tournament, questioning the logic behind withdrawing them from the tournament and placing them under isolation.
“For no fault of ours, we are being penalised. We were informed that a Covid test had to be taken up to 48 hours prior to arrival in Frankfurt. I and Ajay took the test and returned negative. But no one checked our report and Lakshya and his father got tested only on Tuesday. But on Monday, both of them were there in the main hall when everyone practised,” Subhankar told TOI from Saarbrucken.
The Indians are concerned as they have to stay in Saarbrucken for seven more days. Even DK Sen is asymptomatic.
“We have asked for a second test, which will be done in two days. Hopefully, they will allow us to fly back if we test negative again,” Subhankar said.
Lakshya’s coach Vimal Kumar said that Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Himanta Biswa Sarma assured all help. “He told me that after two days if the team tests negative, then he would take up the issue with the ministry of external affairs (MEA),” Vimal told TOI.
The former chief national coach also slammed the organisers of the SaarLorLux Open. “The way they handled our players is quite disgusting. All of them practised in the same hall, travelled by the same bus, so how can you isolate only these three. In tennis, only the affected player is isolated. Even if his coach tests positive, the player is not isolated if he is negative,” Vimal said.