Two players have tested positive for Covid-19. The consequences are that two of the finals at the 2021 European Championships will be cancelled.
On Sunday morning, it has been confirmed that Danish men’s singles player Viktor Axelsen, German doubles player Mark Lamsfuss have tested positive for Covid-19. They are all isolated in their rooms at the official hotel in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The doubles partners of Mark Lamsfuss, Isabel Herttrich and Marvin Seidel, are both isolated due to being close contacts.
- I'm very disappointed and sad about it. We were in top form and we would have won the gold medal today, Mark Lamsfuss said.
- I'm really sorry for Mark and Marvin. The news this morning was a shock. But we know the risks and the current conditions. Of course we have to accept them, DBV sports director Martin Kranitz mentioned.
As a consequence of the three positive test results, the hosting organisation, the Ukrainian Badminton Federation and Badminton Europe have introduced further restrictions on finals day of the 2021 European Championships:
- The men’s singles and the men’s doubles finals have been cancelled
- There will be no podium ceremony for men’s singles and men’s doubles
- It will not be mandatory for the bronze medallists to go on the women’s doubles, women’s singles and mixed doubles podium.
- Only technical officials who tested negative before the finals will be allowed
Brian Agerbak, General Secretary at Badminton Europe, commented on the additional restrictions:
- This is a difficult situation for everybody involved. Finals day is a big day for the athletes and technical officials, but of course, the safety of the athletes and everybody involved remains the primary priority.
- We have considered all scenarios this morning, even to the extent of not playing the finals today, however, on reflection we have decided to not deprive the athletes of the experience of playing a European Championships final.
- Our thoughts go out to the affected athletes, the team around the athletes and the technical officials, and we will do everything in our power to make their quarantine as tollerable as possible.