After Mandeep, five other COVID-19 positive hockey players shifted to hospital as precaution: SAI

Hockey camps from August 19

Varun Kumar | File

The six Indian hockey players testing positive for COVID-19 have all been moved to a multi-speciality hospital as a precautionary measure.

The decision was taken after Mandeep Singh was hospitalised late on Monday night after his oxygen level dropped below normal.

The other five, captain Manpreet Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar and Krishnan B Pathak, were in quarantine at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Bengaluru after

testing positive in the mandatory test on arrival for the national camp. They were being monitored constantly by a dedicated doctor from the hospital.

“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,” SAI said in a statement.

The remaining five were shifted to the hospital late on August 11.

Hockey camps from August 19

SAI, meanwhile, has decided to go-ahead with both the men’s and women’s hockey camps from August 19 after completion of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period, observing the SOP and social distancing norms..

The players, men and women, had assembled on August 4 after a 45-day break, prior to which they had been stuck in Bengaluru for more than 100 days without training due to lockdown.

Men’s coach Graham Reid said the six players would join the camp after recovery and quarantine. The women, however, would all begin training immediately on resumption.

“I say it on behalf of the whole squad that we are very happy to be back resuming sports activities and feeling safe. Having spoken to all the players, I have received a positive response from each of them," women’s chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said.

There have been no COVID-19 cases among the women probables. "We will provide all logistical support required,  as required by the chief coaches of both teams in accordance with SOPs, and ensure that the teams can train in a safe environment,” SAI Regional Director Captain Ajay Bahl said in a statement.