Indian judokas withdraw from Olympic Qualifiers after two positive COVID-19 tests


Indian judokas withdraw from Olympic Qualifiers after two positive COVID-19 tests

Judo (Representational Image)

In what was a crushing blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Indian team of 12 judokas withdrew from the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifiers which are being held at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. This was because of two positive COVID-19 tests in the camp as Ajay Yadav and Ritu tested positive for the virus even before the tournament began leaving the team with no choice.

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Yadav is a judoka who takes part in the 73 kg category while Ritu contests in the 52 kg category. The duo’s second tests upon arrival in the country returned positive. The two were asymptomatic. The incident marked the first time in the Indian nation’s campaign that the COVID-19 virus has put paid to the contingent hopes of making it at an Olympic qualifier event.

Coach Jiwan Sharma speaks about the positive tests

Judo (Representational Image)
Judo (Representational Image)

The Indian team’s coach Jiwan Sharma spoke about the unfortunate outcome to PTI and said, “After landing in Kyrgyzstan on April 4, there was a test done and all of us returned negative. But in the second test on April 5 just before the start of tournament, Ajay and Ritu returned positive. Ajay and Ritu are asymptomatic and they are self isolating at their respective rooms. They are in high spirits and we have been talking and giving encouragement to them through phone.”

Some of India’s eminent judokas like Jasleen Singh Saini, Tulika Mann, Avtar Singh and Shushila Devi were scheduled to take part in the event.

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“We are hoping that both of them return negative in a few days,” the coach said. “We are talking to Sports Authority of India (SAI) as well as the Indian Embassy here. We are requesting that some members who tested negative be allowed to return home. Obviously, the two players will have to be looked after,” he added.

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