Indian Men’s hockey coach Graham Reid and striker Gurjant Singh test positive for COVID-19
COVID-19 has been a cruel mistress to Indian sports recently. After faltering several plans for the cricket team, it has now targeted the Indian hockey team.
According to a report by TOI, the preparations of the Indian hockey team were halted on Thursday, as five members of the group returned a positive RT-PCR test. Among the infected are Gurjant Singh, the striker, and Graham Reid, the head coach.
The 5-members who returned a positive result have mild symptoms. And have been placed in isolation.
The news was confirmed by Hockey India, which put out a media release that said, “Two players and three members of the support staff of the Indian men’s hockey team, currently preparing for the Commonwealth Games, have tested positive for COVID-19.”
Besides Singh, the only other player infected by the virus is midfielder Ashish Topno.
Indian Hockey Association announced its squad for the Commonwealth games on the 20th of June. Since then, a total of 31 players have been gathered at the SAI campus in Bengaluru.
The squad is a mixture of some senior players who were rested. And the FIH touring players who had returned from Belgium and Netherland following a tour.
The training camp was set to go on till July 23. Following which, the players would have departed for Birmingham, England.
India is scheduled to begin their journey in the Commonwealth Games on the 31st of July. They will take on Ghana in a Pool B encounter.
Since India failed to win any medal in the 2018 edition. And considering their great run in the 2020 Olympics, the fans will be hoping for medals.
