Six India men's hockey players, including captain tests Covid-19 positive, tournament uncertain

The upcoming training camp for India's male hockey players in Bengaluru looks uncertain after half a dozen of them tested positive for Covid-19 but the women can resume practice after all of them tested negative for the dreaded virus.

Six Indian men's team players skipper Manpreet Singh, striker Mandeep Singh, defenders Surender Kumar, Jaskaran Singh, drag-flicker Varun Kumar and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak -- have tested positive after reaching Bengaluru for the national camp, scheduled to start on August 20.

Of these, Mandeep has been hospitalised after his blood oxygen levels dropped on Monday.

"The men's camp is in doubt after six positive results, more reports are still awaited from the state government," a SAI source told PTI.

"But the women's camp is still on course after all the players tested negative. They are currently under 14-day quarantine period and the light intensity camp will begin once its over," the source added.

Currently, 33 male and 24 female players are in Bengaluru



for the camp.

The six Covid-19 positive men -- mostly from Punjab -- were part of a 10-member group that travelled together from New Delhi.

According to sources close to the developments, the number could rise as all the test reports of the men's team have not yet to come.

The light intensity national camp was supposed to start in the last week of August after a month-long break and was expected to continue till September 30.

It is learnt that SAI approved the camp after a request from Hockey India, which is among the 57 de-recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs).

"Resuming national camps is not solely SAI's decision. We take feedback and inputs from every NSF before deciding anything because they are more aware than us. We just give them support in terms of opening up our infrastructure," a SAI source said.

"We are in deliberations with respective authorities, including Hockey India on the resumption of men's camp and a decision on this matter will be taken shortly."