Odisha Open 2022, a Badminton World Federation (BWF) Tour Super 100 Tournament, got off to gloomy start at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack today with a spate of walk-overs, no matches and withdrawals due to Covid positive cases, thus spoiling the mega event from the word go.

Out of a total of 42 matches scheduled for the opening day in different categories, only 13 could be played as a large number of players were forced to withdraw after being tested Covid positive. There were as many as 15 walkovers for unknown reasons.

Shuttlers of host Odisha turned out to be worst sufferers as none among them could be seen in action on the opening day. Odisha star Rutaparna Panda, who was supposed to compete in women doubles with Tanisha Crasto of Goa as her partner, gave walkover in the first round.

Though she appeared in good health, a Covid positive test report is said to have ruled her out. This is the second international tournament in two weeks that Rutaparna could not play. She earlier missed the Syed Modi India International Tournament in Lucknow due to a Covid positive report. But two more test, she underwent during the same period, came negative.

Besides Rutaparna, four more Odisha women doubles players (Pragati Parida, Vishakha Toppo, Harshita Rout and Sruti Swain) also made no appearance today due to unknown reasons. When contacted for reasons, Odisha State Badminton Association Secretary Nileen Kumar said, technical matters are being dealt by BWF.

Now Swetaparna Panda, younger sister of Rutaparna, remains the only Odisha shuttler in the fray. She is scheduled to start her women doubles campaign with Sri Sai Sravya Lakkamraju as her partner tomorrow. Meanwhile, Swetaparna has reached mixed doubles second round with Balkeshari Yadav as her partner. They got walkover in their first round match against Arya Thakore and Mahek Nayak.