Jonathan Christie may have faced his opponent while carrying the coronavirus, as the Indonesian shuttler who specializes in singles discipline has tested positive for COVID-19.
Jojo, as he is popularly known, was eliminated in the second round of the German Open 2022 after falling to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn 22-20, 21-9, on March 10.
Not long after the defeat, Jojo’s PCR test result, which was taken before the match, came back positive.
“The test was carried out in the morning and it was due to come out in the afternoon,” Indonesia’s men’s singles coach Irwansyah said in a press release by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI).
“During the match between Jojo and Thailand’s Kunlavut, the test result hadn’t come out. After the match, Jojo told me that he tested positive, while the rest of the [Indonesia] team tested negative.”
Irwansyah added that Jojo felt symptoms during the match.
“Entering the second game, Jojo said he felt his muscles were stiff, particularly in his thighs. At the time, I was disappointed because his level was below the previous day when he played [China’s] Li Shi Feng,” he said.
Jojo has been placed in hotel quarantine, away from the rest of the Indonesia team at the German Open.
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