Indian hockey teams for Tokyo Olympics to join National camp in Bengaluru today

Bengaluru, Aug 4: The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams bound for the Tokyo Olympics will join the National Camp at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Bengaluru today. The decision was taken by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) after formal permission was received from the State Government to begin training in Bengaluru.

 

 

 

 

The athletes, coaches, and support staff, who were on a home break, will join the camp and undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine inside the campus. Considering the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, the permission from the State Government has been given subject to all arriving athletes, coaches and support staff adhering to institutional quarantine protocols issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Government of Karnataka.

 

"The camp will begin in keeping with all protocols and in strict adherence to the SOPs of SAI and that of the state government. Athletes, coaches, and support staff will also be tested when they arrive in Bengaluru to ensure that all campers are at a reduced risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus," SAI had said earlier in a statement.

 

The players and support staff, who will arrive from various parts of the country and abroad, will undergo a two-week quarantine inside the campus before resuming training. They will be tested on arrival and will be tested again after the quarantine period ends. SAI Bengaluru administration has already held online workshops for athletes, coaches, and support staff scheduled to join the camp on precautionary measures to be followed while inside the campus.

 

The players had spent four months in the camp due to the nationwide lockdown. So, the players went to their home towns on June 19 for a four-week break after the easing of restrictions.