Covid-19 cases in the Squad!
The Indian women’s hockey team was forced to pull out of the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy after one of its players tested positive for Covid-19.
Asian Hockey federation sources confirmed that the Indian team was not in the event the day after the cancellation of the match between the defending champions Korea and China. The side is currently quarantined in Korea and the identity of the player has not been revealed.
“India the runner-up in the final version is out of the tournament because of a positive case with the team. India will not participate in the tournament anymore,” said AHF sources.
The pandemic has cast its shadow on the tournament when India’s second match against Malaysia was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Malaysia was eventually forced out after one of its players, Nurul Faezah Shafiqah Khalim, tested positive for the virus
China, Korea, and Japan were the other teams in the single pool competition.
India had earlier defeated Thailand by 13-0 with drag-flicker Gurgit Cowl scoring five goals.
India is the highest-ranked team in the competition as it is ranked 9th in the International Hockey Federation Women’s ranking.
The Women's Asian trophy was originally scheduled for March 2020 but was postponed many times due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The tournament was finally scheduled to be held in between 5-12 December 2021.
India has won the ACT title before finishing runner-up to the tournament hosts Korea in the same city in the 2018 edition.
China, Korea, Japan and Malaysia were the other teams in the single pool competition.
Hockey India also tweeted for the same, “The Indian Women’s team will not play against China on December 9th because the health and the safety of the players is our top priority.”
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