The Denmark Open was further deprived of quality participation after Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and P. Kashyap withdrew from the Super 750 event, which is scheduled to begin on October 13th.

"I withdrew from the Denmark Open. I have decided that I will start the season from January only with the Asian Tour,” Saina told Times of India. 

Her husband, Kashyap, also pulled out, after the duo had earlier sent their entries for the US$750,000 (RM3.12 million) tournament and submitted their consent letter to the Badminton Association of India last month.

Last week, top seed and world number one Kento Momota had pulled out of the tournament along with 14 other Japanese shuttlers due to alarming coronavirus cases in Denmark, averaging around 400 new cases daily.

Saina’s absence will be felt, especially after world number three Akane Yamaguchi also pulled out with the rest of the Japanese squad.

Akane’s compatriot Nozomi Okuhara, who is still slated to compete, and Spaniard shuttler Carolina Marin will be among the hot favourites to clinch the women’s singles title.

Okuhara made last year's final before being ousted by Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-ying in straight sets.

Malaysian men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia was not surprised with the spate of withdrawals, adding he never pays much attention to events he is not competing in.

"I hardly watch any matches when I’m not competing. For now, the focus is on myself. Frankly, I didn’t even realise the tournament is starting next week until I was reminded by journalists,” he said.

Malaysian shuttlers will not be competing at the European event, and will instead prepare for the Asian leg in January, which consists of two Super 1000 events and the BWF World Tour Finals.