Thapa has separated from the squad and is under quarantine in a separate room in the team hotel in Doha.
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Troubles for the Indian football team don’t seem to be ending. The absence of Anirudh Thapa was visible when the team lost at the hands of Qatar– 1-0. It is now revealed that Indian midfielder Anirudh Thapa has tested positive for COVID-19. Thapa has separated from the squad and is under quarantine in a separate room in the team hotel in Doha. Thapa tested positive on Wednesday. This was just a day before India lost 0-1 to Asian champions Qatar in their joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers in Doha.
“Yes, Anirudh Thapa is Covid positive. He has been in isolation, I think they will do another test. Although he is positive, his CT value is quite good. In Qatar, if the CT value is less than 30 then you are considered Covid positive. They will keep him in isolation, they will conduct another test in 1 or 2 days’ time,” said Kushal Das, AIFF president.
Now, AIFF has also said that the 23-year-old Chennaiyin FC player will be tested again for the virus in a few days. Looking at Thapa’s career, the young lad has played more than 20 matches for India. India are already out of contention for a World Cup berth but remain in the reckoning for the 2023 Asian Cup.
The last time the two teams met in September 2019, India had held the Asian champions to a goalless draw. Courtesy of the result, India stays on three points from six matches, while Qatar sits pretty on top of Group E with 19 points from seven matches.
The Blue Tigers will next lock horns against Bangladesh on Monday.
