Hockey India (HI) released a statement that also said that their priority is the Asian Games next year, which will be an Olympic qualifier.
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The Indian hockey teams have officially withdrawn from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, citing, among other things, the Covid-19 situation in the United Kingdom and the mandatory 10-day quarantine rule for Indians. Hockey India (HI) released a statement saying that their priority is the Asian Games next year, which is the continental qualification event for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They called England the worst-affected country in Europe. While the Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8 next year, there is only a 32-day gap before the Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou, China, on September 10.
The sports body requested that the organizers be notified in advance in a letter addressed to Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra. “It is important to note that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, England has issued guidelines requiring 10 days quarantine for Indian arrivals in England, even if fully vaccinated, because unfortunately, Indian vaccinations are not yet recognized by the English government,” it read.
“You will appreciate that the Asian Games is the Continental qualification event for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and keeping the priority of the Asian Games in mind, Hockey India can not risk any members of the Indian teams contracting COVID-19 during the Commonwealth Games,” it continued.
“Such discriminatory restrictions were not imposed on Indian athletes and officials during the recent Tokyo Olympic Games and this 10 days quarantine requirement for vaccinated sports persons will affect their performances. We feel these restrictions are biased against India and term it as very unfortunate,” added the letter signed by Hockey India President Gyanendro Ningombam.
Meanwhile, the Indian hockey players returned to training in Bengaluru on Monday after a well-deserved break following their Olympic success in Tokyo. According to a SAI press release, all COVID-related protocols were strictly adhered to in the camp. All of the players and support staff have undergone a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and are being quarantined in separate rooms.
The United Kingdom recently refused to recognize India’s COVID-19 vaccination certificates and imposed a 10-day hard quarantine on all visitors from the country, even if fully vaccinated.
HI’s decision comes just one day after England withdrew from the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup, which will be held in Bhubaneswar next month, citing a number of COVID-related concerns and taking “note” of the Indian government’s mandatory 10-day quarantine protocol for all UK nationals.
Following the UK’s restrictions, India imposed reciprocal restrictions on all British nationals arriving in the country. All British nationals arriving in India from the UK, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to produce the results of the RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel, according to India’s new regulations. They will also be subjected to two more RT-PCR tests, the first upon arrival at the airport in India and the second on Day 8 after arrival.
