CAMPS for India’s national hockey teams set to commence on August 19, says SAI

SPORTS Authority of India has clarified that the training camps for India’s national hockey teams for men and women will be resumed from August 19  in Bengaluru as announced earlier despite captain Manpreet Singh and some other players undergoing treatment for  Covid-19 infection. ’The Indian men’s and Indian women’s hockey teams are scheduled to resume sports activities from, Wednesday 19th August 2020, following the completion of their 14-day quarantine period,” the SAI said in a statement. The decision was taken after interaction  with the game’s stakeholders, including Hockey India officials and chief coaches of both the teams.“…After giving the utmost priority to the safety and well-being of all the athletes, it has been decided that the sporting activities will be resumed at SAI’s National Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, as scheduled earlier. “The camp for male hockey players was uncertain after six of them tested positive for Covid-19. The women’s camp, however, was never in doubt after all of them tested negative for the dreaded virus. Five Covid-19 positive hockey players have been hospitalized in Bengaluru as a precautionary measure after striker Mandeep Singh was transferred to the facility following a dip in his blood oxygen level, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said.“…The Sports Authority of India decided to shift the other five players, to SS Sparsh Multi-speciality hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday afternoon, as a precautionary measure,” the SAI said. The decision to hospitalise them was taken so as to ensure that the players were attended to at all times and could be given the best possible treatment. All six athletes are in good health and recovering well.”  Picture courtesy to TOI