Hockey India steps back from 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games

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• Oct 6, 2021 | Deleted

New Delhi: Hockey India on Tuesday withdraws its men and women teams from Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in England's Birmingham next year.

The decision was taken citing covid-19 concerns and UK’s discriminatory quarantine rules for travelers from India.

The decision from Hockey India comes a day after England’s decision not to participate in Junior Men’s World Cup, scheduled in Bhubaneswar from November 24 citing the same reason.

“With reference to the pandemic, we have observed over the 18 months that England has been the worst affected country in Europe.” said Hockey India President Gyanandro Ningombam in a letter to Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra.

Moreover, Hockey India reasoned that there is only a 32-day window available between the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and Hangzhou Asian Games so, it will be risky to send the players to UK which is one of the worst affected by the covid-19.

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“Asian games is the continental qualification event for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, therefore, prioritizing it in mind, Hockey India cannot risk any members of the Indian teams contracting covid-19 during the commonwealth games.” Ningombam wrote.

However, efforts will be made to persuade Hockey India to send second-string teams instead of pulling out together, Times of India quoted.

Recently, UK refused to recognize India’s covid-19 vaccination certificates and orders a 10 day home quarantine on travelers from India even if they were fully vaccinated.

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games would have been the first big event for both the teams after their high voltage performances at the Tokyo Games, where the men's team won bronze while the women finished a creditable fourth.