India`s leading doubles shuttler Chirag Shetty, who is preparing for the Tokyo Olympics with partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy at the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, has said that the cancellations of the Malaysia Open (May 25 to 30) and Singapore Open (June 1-6) have come as a shock to them. 

“We had been training for almost two months for these events. And then to suddenly learn that they will not be held [because of the Covid-19 situation] came as a rude shock. In April, the India Open [May 11 to 16], one of the last three qualifying events for the Olympics, was also postponed but that was expected. But now, with these cancellations, it’s difficult to stay calm and focused given the uncertainty of the situation. This will be my first Olympics but personally, I will believe that my Olympic dream has come true only after I reach the Games village. Till then, nothing can be said,” Chirag, a Goregaon resident, told mid-day on Friday.