Report Wire

Tag: covid in sports

  • Dhawan, Shreyas amongst 4 staff members check optimistic forward of WI collection

    Four Indian staff gamers, together with Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, and three help employees have examined optimistic for Covid-19 in Ahmedabad, with the three-match ODI collection in opposition to West Indies beginning on February 6.
    The Indian Express understands that Dhawan, Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Navdeep Saini (who’s a reserve participant) examined optimistic together with three help employees.
    The Indian board carried out RT-PCR checks on January 31, February 1 and February 2. It is learnt that Dhawan and Saini examined optimistic after the primary check whereas Gaikwad and Iyer have been discovered contaminated within the second and third checks respectively.
    There isn’t any readability in the meanwhile whether or not the BCCI will identify replacements of the above gamers, or anticipate just a few days. The Indian staff was purported to bear three days’ quarantine earlier than getting into a bio-bubble.
    The BCCI had instructed its gamers and help employees to get RT-PCR checks executed on January 28 earlier than checking into the staff lodge.

    “The infected players have been isolated along with the three support staff members. The BCCI is monitoring the situation and will see whether replacements are required,” a Board official confirmed.
    Axar examined optimistic too
    It is learnt that all-rounder Axar Patel, who’s but to hitch the Indian staff, too has examined optimistic. Patel is a part of the T20I squad, with three video games scheduled in Kolkata beginning February 16.
    Patel was about to hitch the Indian staff in Ahmedabad, however couldn’t. The Indian staff’s throwdown specialist Raghu too has examined optimistic and couldn’t be a part of the squad.
    Looking on the state of affairs, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) has determined to stage the ODI collection behind closed doorways.

    “We are all set to host the West Indies Tour of India ODI Series 2022. 1st ODI on 6th of Feb will be a very special and historic match as India will be playing its 1000th ODI. The Indian team will be the first cricket team in the world to achieve this feat. Considering the current situation, all the matches will be played behind closed doors,” the state cricket physique had tweeted.

    Considering the present state of affairs, all of the matches can be performed behind the closed doorways.
    — Gujarat Cricket Association (Official) (@GCAMotera) February 1, 2022

  • I-League to renew on March 3

    The Hero I-League 2021-22 season will resume on March 3 in Kolkata after a quick pause to make sure the protection of all of the gamers and officers concerned within the league, the All India Football Federation stated on Tuesday.
    On January 3, the I-League was suspended by the AIFF after a contemporary COVID-19 outbreak hit the collaborating groups contained in the bio-bubble right here.
    The league might be performed from inside the security of a bio-bubble, which is able to start on February 20, with the gamers and officers needing to journey with three adverse RT-PCR exams earlier than becoming a member of the bubble. Additionally, each gamers may also be required to do a 12 lead ECG earlier than arrival.
    Once contained in the bio-bubble, every particular person must serve 7 days in quarantine, with three extra exams being accomplished. On receiving three adverse RT-PCR exams in quarantine, the gamers and officers might be free to function from inside the bubble and attend coaching periods, meals, group conferences, and matches.

    Hero @ILeagueOfficial 2021-22 to renew on March 3 🗓
    Read 👉🏼 https://t.co/waCU3xq8TX#HeroILeague 🏆 #LeagueForAll 🤝 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/hXlnwjyZQk
    — Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) February 1, 2022
    “We had stopped the league initially as we wanted to ensure the safety of the players and officials involved, and did not want COVID-19 to spread,” stated AIFF Leagues CEO Sunando Dhar.

    “Now, after getting the clearance from the relevant authorities and a go-ahead from the doctor, we feel that with the positivity rates going down, this is the best time to restart the season,” he added.
    “I have been in touch with all the clubs, and they have all expressed their excitement, and are looking forward to the restart,” he concluded.

    There might be no change in format for the league, with the 13 groups to play towards one another as soon as in a round-robin format, within the first spherical. Once the primary spherical is over, the groups might be divided into two teams – Group A will encompass the highest seven groups that can struggle for the championship title, whereas Group B will encompass the underside six groups that might be embroiled in a relegation battle. Each membership will play their opponents of their respective teams as soon as in a round-robin format, within the second spherical.
    The matches might be performed throughout three venues – Kalyani Municipal Stadium, Naihati Stadium, and the Mohun Bagan Ground.

  • We are planning to carry Ranji Trophy in two phases: BCCI treasurer Dhumal

    BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal on Thursday stated that the board intends to carry the Ranji Trophy in “two phases” after they have been pressured to postpone the premier first-class competitors attributable to rising circumstances of COVID-19 within the nation.
    The Ranji Trophy comprising 38-first-class groups was scheduled to start out on January 13 however was postponed indefinitely because of the third wave of COVID-19.
    With the BCCI planning to start out the IPL from March 27, it’s virtually inconceivable to carry the match in a single go however after requests from many state items, the brass held a gathering to debate the way in which ahead.

    “We are exploring the possibility of staging Ranji Trophy, cases were going up when it was postponed, now they seem to be coming down. The operations team is working on whether we can do the league stage next month and complete the rest of the tournament later (post IPL),” Dhumal informed PTI after the assembly.
    The assembly was additionally attended by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah.
    As of now, the plan is to carry the league part for a month, beginning in February until March after which have the subsequent part in June-July, when the monsoon begins in quite a lot of elements of India with peak summer season in another elements.
    “The operations team will work out the logistics and factor in the weather, venue availability as well as availability of players. We are very keen to organise the tournament and that is why we are exploring all possibilities to stage it without compromising players’ safety,” Dhumal added.
    The pandemic performed spoilsport final season because the BCCI solely had the 2 males’s white ball tourneys (Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy).

    The BCCI paid 50 % of the sooner match charges as compensation to all first-class cricketers who’ve endured monetary losses.
    If it’s not held this yr, it should severely have an effect on the BCCI’s pathways cricket like India A crew, which is primarily chosen on the premise of Rani Trophy efficiency.

  • Djokovic might play in France below newest vaccine guidelines

    Top-ranked participant Novak Djokovic could possibly be allowed to defend his French Open title below the newest COVID-19 guidelines adopted by the French authorities, even when he’s nonetheless not vaccinated when the clay-court Grand Slam begins in May.
    Djokovic was deported from Australia and barred from enjoying within the Australian Open this month for not assembly the nation’s strict COVID-19 vaccination guidelines.
    It initially appeared that the Serb tennis star wouldn’t be welcomed at Roland Garros both below a brand new legislation supposed to exclude the unvaccinated from stadiums, eating places, bars and different public locations.
    As questions rapidly arose about Djokovic’s standing in France following his deportation from Australia, Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu beforehand stated that as quickly because the legislation was handed the nation’s vaccine move would develop into obligatory to enter stadiums, theater or exhibitions, “for all spectators, practitioners, French or foreign professionals.”
    But the vaccine move shouldn’t be restricted to vaccination.

    Under the legislation that took impact on Monday, anybody who has proof they examined optimistic throughout the earlier six months is exempt from having to indicate a vaccine move. That suggests Djokovic might play within the French Open in May and June, the subsequent Grand Slam event, as a result of he has stated he examined optimistic in mid-December.
    The French sports activities ministry was not instantly obtainable to reply questions from The Associated Press on Djokovic.
    French Open organizers have beforehand stated it’s too early to remark since virus restrictions can change between now and May relying on the virus state of affairs.
    Djokovic’s group additionally declined to remark Monday. Djokovic stated earlier he wouldn’t give public statements till the top of the Australian Open.
    Cafe homeowners and patrons in Paris largely welcomed the brand new legislation, which is central to the federal government’s anti-virus technique.

    “Personally, it reassures me in the sense that I know the people I have around me,” stated Parisian Charles Tuile. “We want to be in a place where we can be safe in terms of health. And if you can see that the waiter checks vaccine passes and even ID cards, then it’s reassuring in many ways.”
    France is registering Europe’s highest-ever day by day coronavirus an infection numbers, and hospitals are persevering with to refill with virus sufferers, despite the fact that the variety of folks in intensive care models has dropped in latest days.
    The authorities has imposed few different restrictions amid the surge within the omicron variant, focusing as an alternative on the vaccine move, authorised by France’s parliament and Constitutional Council final week.
    Critics query whether or not the move will make a lot distinction in a rustic the place 94% of French adults have had no less than one vaccine dose, and scattered teams held protests Saturday towards the brand new legislation. The French authorities hopes that it protects probably the most weak and reduces stress on crowded ICUs, the place most sufferers are unvaccinated.

    Since final summer time, France has required a “health pass” to go to any cafe, museum, movie show or take a regional prepare or home flight. But till Monday, unvaccinated folks might activate the move by getting a latest damaging take a look at. The new move solely works for people who find themselves absolutely vaccinated and people who just lately recovered from the virus.
    “To me, it’s not a problem (to show ID card) but I can perfectly imagine the kind of downward spiral it could trigger – it’s like racial profiling,” stated Tania Chauvin, 31, as she ate in a Paris restaurant.
    France, in the meantime, opened up entry to booster pictures Monday for 12- to 17-year-olds.

    Djokovic’s Australian saga started when he was granted an exemption to strict vaccination guidelines by two medical panels and the event organizer with a view to play within the Australian Open based mostly on paperwork he equipped displaying he had just lately had COVID-19. He obtained a visa to enter the nation by means of an automatic course of. But upon arrival, border officers stated the exemption was not legitimate and moved to deport him.
    In the top, Australian authorities revoked Djokovic’s visa, saying his presence might fire up anti-vaccine sentiment and that kicking him out was essential to maintain Australians secure. He was deported a day earlier than the event obtained underway in Melbourne.

  • Asian Cup: Two members of Indian group check Covid optimistic on eve of match

    COVID-19 breached the Indian ladies’s soccer group’s bio-security bubble right here on Wednesday forward of the AFC Asian Cup with two gamers testing optimistic for the virus, forcing the organisers to shift them to a medical facility for isolation.
    “Two members of the Indian Women’s Senior National Team for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 have tested positive for COVID-19, and are currently in isolation at a designated medical care facility,” the All India Football Federation (AIFF) tweeted.

    “The AIFF prioritises the health and safety of its players, and are following all,” the organising federation wrote in one other tweet.

    The AIFF prioritises the well being and security of its gamers, and are following all the required well being protocols as have been laid down by the AFC. (2/2)
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 19, 2022
    One of the gamers would have featured within the beginning XI within the marketing campaign opener in opposition to Iran, a supply near the AIFF mentioned.

    The two optimistic instances is not going to threaten the match as AIFF president Praful Patel on Monday mentioned that matches is not going to be cancelled if 13 gamers can be found in every of the 2 competing groups.
    Patel, who can also be the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), mentioned that contingency plans have been put in place to take care of any scenario in case collaborating group members are contaminated by the virus.
    “The affected player or players will be isolated but the teams will be fielded as long as 13 players (in each team) are available,” mentioned Patel.
    All the 12 collaborating groups have named 23-member squads for the match.

    The match assumes significance because the top-five finishers will guide a spot within the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. India are grouped with China, Chinese Taipei and Iran in Group A.
    Due to the continued pandemic, strict well being and security protocols have been put in place for the match. All the 12 collaborating groups are staying inside a strict bio-bubble and everybody concerned within the match, together with all gamers and officers are required to endure common COVID-19 checks.
    All the workers working within the group resorts will even be within the bio-bubble and won’t bodily work together with anybody outdoors the bubble. Same goes for the bus drivers who will ferry the groups for coaching and matches. They have additionally been supplied lodging contained in the bubble.

  • Long-format journeymen hit arduous by Ranji postponement, financially and cricket-wise

    With the 2021-22 season of the Ranji Trophy presently postponed because of the pandemic, after the match was cancelled final time period, it has hit arduous significantly these home gamers who solely play the lengthy format of the sport. Not solely do they lose out on earnings, their cricketing improvement is stalled additionally. Bihar captain Ashutosh Aman is considered one of them.
    A left-arm spinner by commerce, Aman bagged 68 wickets within the 2018-19 home season, surpassing Bishan Singh Bedi’s 44-year-old report – the previous India skipper had 64 scalps through the 1974-75 season – within the course of. But two years with out first-class cricket has made it a distant reminiscence for the 35-year-old. A fortunate few in home cricket have IPL contracts, however Aman just isn’t considered one of them.

    “It doesn’t matter if a cricketer is playing the IPL or not. Everybody wants to play the Ranji Trophy and perform well, aspiring to play for the country,” Aman informed The Indian Express.
    “We work hard for the entire year, but it’s unfortunate that the Ranji Trophy has been postponed again. Still, we are hopeful that soon everything will be under control. The BCCI has also assured the players that they will try their best to organise the tournament.”
    Love for cricket
    Born in Gaya, Aman’s journey has been an eventful one. His mother and father needed him to check and get a good job. So when after finishing college, he obtained a job with the Indian Air Force, it was accepted as excellent news. Aman, although, had already fallen for cricket, after watching Sachin Tendulkar on tv.
    “I was inclined towards cricket since my childhood. I watched Sachin Tendulkar on TV, which triggered the interest. At the time, however, Bihar had very little cricket and as there was no professional cricket played in Gaya, we used to play a lot of tennis ball stuff,” Aman mentioned.

    Chronicles of #IAF journey & sports activities : Sgt Ashutosh Aman, enjoying for Bihar in Ranji Trophy 2018-19. He has taken 68 wickets in 08 matches within the match & damaged the 44 12 months outdated report of #RanjiTrophy set by legendary Spinner Bishan Singh Bedi, of max wickets in 01 season. pic.twitter.com/vwODbvWimW
    — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) January 16, 2019
    “After completing Class X, I joined the Indian Air Force. Eventually, I came to know that the Air Force has its own cricket team as well. I never played any leather-ball cricket until I joined the Air Force. But some experience in tennis-ball cricket allowed me to make the transition.”
    Journey with the airmen
    Aman quickly began to impress individuals. “I got selected for the Air Force cricket team and practised with them in Delhi. Selection to the main squad comes via performances in inter-departmental games. I started in 2005-06 and took three years to reach the next level,” he mentioned.
    In 2010-11, he obtained into the Services group, performed some limited-overs matches however couldn’t graduate to play the Ranji Trophy.
    Bihar story
    Aman returned to Bihar and obtained into the state Ranji group. “When I came to Bihar on my holidays, the Gaya District Association approached me to play for them in inter-district matches and I agreed. The matches were played at Moin-ul-Haque Stadium in Patna and my performance was very good. An offer came from the state association to appear for the Ranji trials, subject to Bihar getting BCCI affiliation. That eventually happened,” he recalled, including: “At the time, Pragyan Ojha was the captain of the Bihar team and Subroto Banerjee the coach. They picked me and boosted my confidence. I performed well and became the Bihar captain in that season itself.”

    One extra report for Bihar’s Ashutosh Aman. pic.twitter.com/o9SReIqkiF
    — Md Isha Uddin (@mdishauddin) January 29, 2020
    Family’s function
    “My family wanted me to study and get a decent job. Initially, I was also focusing on academics but when I got a good job, they all supported me. They encouraged me to play professional cricket,” Aman mentioned.
    Now in his mid-30s, he takes care of his health, exercise periods and weight-reduction plan, and nonetheless harbours hope of enjoying for the nation. He is completely happy that the infrastructure in Bihar cricket “has started to improve”.
    “Age is just a number. Wriddhiman Saha is playing Tests at 38 years of age. So, I’m not much concerned about my age. I always hope to get a chance in the future, if I play well. I just focus on the process.”

    The quagmire
    The Covid pandemic has stalled that course of and he isn’t alone on this quagmire. “It’s not only about the monetary aspects. Our cricketing progress has hit a roadblock. Missing two years of first-class cricket on the bounce can be a big setback for any player. He can lose his form and lose the opportunity to knock on the Indian team’s door. The BCCI compensated the players for last season’s cancellation, which has been sort of 50 per cent. But if you play a full season, at least eight games in the Ranji Trophy, with the match fee being increased to Rs 60,000 per day for the players who have 40-plus games under their belt, one is set to earn around Rs 19 lakh in a season,” senior Bengal batsman Anustup Majumdar informed this paper.

    His state team-mate Koushik Ghosh, mainly a one-format participant, rued the postponement. “Yes, we received 50 per cent match money for last season, but haven’t played red-ball cricket this season at all. The biggest problem is that this has been impacting our mindset. You need a different mindset to play first-class cricket.”
    Ghosh urged Cricket Association of Bengal to organise the workplace league, for his job with the Income Tax division is linked to it.

  • Covid-hit Jamshedpur FC’s ISL match in opposition to Hyderabad FC postponed as a result of lack of gamers

    Jamshedpur FC’s Indian Super League match in opposition to Hyderabad FC was postponed hours earlier than kick-off right here on Monday after the Jharkhand-based membership didn’t subject a workforce as a result of COVID-19 instances in its ranks.
    The ISL mentioned it’s going to reschedule the match to a later date.
    “Hero Indian Super League (ISL) announces the postponement of Match No. 63 between Hyderabad FC and Jamshedpur FC scheduled to be played today, Monday, January 17, 2022, at Athletic Stadium, Bambolim,” the ISL mentioned in an announcement.

    “The decision has been taken in consultation with the League’s medical team taking into account the inability of Jamshedpur FC to field a team. The League will look to rearrange the fixture to a later date.”

    Match 63 of #HeroISL 2021-22 between @HydFCOfficial & @JamshedpurFC has been postponed. (1/4)
    League Statement: https://t.co/Drx5QhgF2s#HFCJFC #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/DMZljGQ5q6
    — Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 17, 2022

    A match between Kerala Blasters FC and Mumbai City FC in Vasco was additionally postponed on Sunday, hours earlier than kickoff because the southern outfit didn’t have the requisite variety of gamers to subject.

    Prior to this, two extra matches had been postponed this season after the coronavirus breached the ISL’s bio-bubble.
    Besides gamers from Jamshedpur FC, members of ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa, Bengaluru FC and Odisha FC have additionally contracted the virus, whereas SC East Bengal too remoted themselves after their resort employees contained in the bio bubble was discovered optimistic.

  • Consternation after Arsenal-Tottenham is newest EPL recreation off

    Arsenal’s request to name off its north London derby match in opposition to Tottenham due to an absence of senior gamers out there was granted by the Premier League on Saturday.
    “We know how much this match means to our fans around the world,” Arsenal mentioned of the choice to postpone Sunday’s match which is able to trigger some consternation amongst rival groups.

    It was reached as a result of Arsenal has fewer than the required variety of gamers — 13 outfield and one goalkeeper — due to a mixture of COVID-19 circumstances, accidents and gamers away on worldwide obligation on the African Cup of Nations.
    However, Arsenal has lately determined to let two gamers exit on mortgage and has one participant out suspended in Granit Xhaka. In Arsenal’s most up-to-date replace, there weren’t many coronavirus-related absences for this recreation.

    🚨 Our match in opposition to Tottenham on Sunday, January 16 has been postponed. #TOTARS
    — Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 15, 2022
    On Friday, Chelsea supervisor Thomas Tuchel mentioned he can be aggrieved if he found that rival Premier League golf equipment have been abusing coronavirus postponement guidelines after his membership’s request to name off a match — in opposition to Wolverhampton on Dec. 19 — was rejected regardless of seven COVID-19 circumstances of their squad.
    Asked if he thought some golf equipment have been making an attempt to push the bounds on postponements with ways resembling together with normal accidents and Africa Cup of Nations absentees, Tuchel replied: “I strongly, strongly hope that’s not the case, because otherwise I would be very, very angry.”
    Arsenal-Tottenham is the twenty first Premier League recreation postponed since Dec. 12, primarily as a result of gamers having to isolate, and it’s inflicting a backlog of fixtures for the second half of the season.

    Following a request from Arsenal FC, the Premier League Board met as we speak and regrettably agreed to postpone the North London Derby, as a result of be performed at 4:30pm on Sunday 16 January.
    Full PL assertion ⤵️
    — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 15, 2022
    “What started out as postponements due to a pandemic has now become about clubs not having their best team,” Gary Neville, the previous Manchester United and England defender and now TV pundit, mentioned on Twitter. “The Premier League must stop this now, draw a line in the sand and say all games go ahead unless you have an exceptional amount of CV cases. It’s wrong.”
    Burnley’s scarcity of gamers as a result of coronavirus circumstances and accidents prompted the postponement of its match in opposition to Leicester this weekend. Burnley has performed 17 league video games this season, the fewest within the division and 5 lower than chief Manchester City.
    Two weekend video games within the Women’s Super League have been postponed due to virus outbreaks.

    The FA, which runs the WSL, introduced Saturday the sport between Arsenal and Reading on Sunday was referred to as off after Reading requested postponement.
    On Friday, the FA postponed the Chelsea-Everton match scheduled Sunday due to virus circumstances and accidents at Everton.
    FRANCE
    Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas examined optimistic for the coronavirus on Saturday morning and has began isolating, the French league chief mentioned.
    PSG mentioned backup Lucas Lavallee was changing Navas within the squad to face Brest in a while Saturday.

    Navas is the newest PSG participant to check optimistic after ahead Lionel Messi, winger Angel Di Maria, midfielder Nathan Bitumazala, defenders Layvin Kurzawa and Juan Bernat, and backup goalkeepers Sergio Rico and Denis Franchi.

  • Odisha FC goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh exams constructive for Covid

    Odisha FC’s first-choice goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh examined constructive for COVID-19 moments earlier than the group’s match towards Kerala Blasters on Wednesday in a one other setback to the Indian Super League’s bio-secure bubble right here.
    “Kamaljit has tested positive but the match is on as per schedule as the rest of the players have tested negative in the team. We have our reserve goalkeeper (Arshdeep Singh) ready,” sources near the event advised PTI right here.

    He additional stated Kamaljit had developed signs and was instantly remoted.

    OFC’s final match towards ATK Mohun Bagan on Saturday needed to be postponed after a participant within the Mariners camp examined constructive within the first official case of COVID-19 within the match being held in Goa in a decent bio-bubble.

    But since then there have been rising issues about attainable unfold of COVID-19 contained in the bubble with 4 prime ATK Mohun Bagan gamers additionally testing constructive.

    Also on Sunday, FC Goa have been pressured to cancel their coaching session after a participant was feared to have examined constructive.
    Thereafter, three FC Goa gamers and a member of the teaching workers have been despatched into isolation after their stories confirmed contrasting outcomes.

  • England shuttlers pull out of India Open badminton after 2 optimistic instances in contingent

    The complete England badminton contingent has withdrawn from the upcoming India Open after the nation’s doubles specialist Sean Vendy and coach Nathan Robertson examined optimistic for the COVID-19.
    England’s resolution to tug out was made public by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Sunday.
    The organisers, nonetheless, stated that COVID checks of all gamers carried out this morning on the staff resort got here out destructive.

    “Entire @BadmintonEnglnd team had withdrawn two days back and they are not here in India. #YonexSunriseIndiaOpen2022 is on track and all players who were tested at the hotel this morning as per protocol have come negative,” the BAI tweeted.

    UPDATE🛑
    Entire @BadmintonEnglnd staff had withdrawn two days again and they don’t seem to be right here in India. #YonexSunriseIndiaOpen2022 is on monitor and all gamers who have been examined on the resort this morning as per protocol have come destructive. #IndiaKaregaSmash#badminton https://t.co/L2UfxR7uZs
    — BAI Media (@BAI_Media) January 9, 2022
    Vendy’s males’s doubles companion, Ben Lane, too confirmed the event with a Twitter submit.
    “No India Open this year for myself and @SeanVendy after he returned a positive covid test along with our coach @Nath_Robertson,” Lane tweeted.

    Vendy and Lane have been seeded fourth within the males’s doubles competitors.

    The India Open will likely be held on the nationwide capital from January 11 to 16 amid a spike in COVID-19 instances throughout the nation.
    Organised by the BAI, the USD 400,000 Super 500 occasion will begin the 2022 BWF World Tour season.