DONGHAE: The Indian women’s hockey team was forced to withdraw from the current Asian Champions Trophy on Thursday after one of its players tested positive with COVID-19. Malaysia was also forced to withdraw after contracting the virus.
An Asian Hockey Federation source informed PTI that the Indian team is no longer participate in the event, a day after its matches against reigning champions Korea and China were canceled. The team is presently under quarantine, and the individual who tested positive has yet to be identified.
“Last edition’s runner-up India are out of the tournament due to a positive case in the squad. India will no longer participate any further in the tournament,” the AHF source said.
India was to face Korea, and on Thursday, they were to face China on Wednesday.
“With the health and safety of the players being paramount, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s match against China on 9th December will not take place,” Hockey India had tweeted on Wednesday.
The epidemic had already thrown a pall over the competition when India’s second match versus Malaysia was called off owing to COVID-related concerns on Monday.
After one of its players, Nurul Faezah Shafiqah Khalim tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, Malaysia was finally sent out.
India had beaten Thailand 13-0 earlier in the tournament, with drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur scoring five goals.
India is the highest-ranked team in the tournament, sitting eighth in the women’s standings of the International Hockey Federation.
The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy was supposed to take place in 2020, however, it was repeatedly postponed because of the COVID-19 epidemic.
