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The Commonwealth-bound India women's hockey team is gripping under Covid-19 scare as its star midfielder Navjot Kaur has been forced into isolation post her RTPCR-test returned inconclusive.
“She has been kept in isolation. Her CT value is not infectious. She tested positive in the first test but in the second test her CT value improved and she can't infect others. She remains in isolation and owing to this she will have to go back to India,” a source told India Today.
Kaur was a member of the silver-winning team at the Asian Games in Jakarta and bronze winner from Incheon in 2014.
The 300-plus Indian contingent has been largely free from COVID so far in the Games.
Two cricket team members, Pooja Vastrakar and S Meghana, tested positive in India but have recovered. Meghana has already joined the team and Pooja is likely to join before the third game against Barbados on August 3.
Earlier this week, the Games organisers had said that the Games Village was reporting a dozen cases per day.
The Birmingham Games is the first multi-discipline event since the start of the pandemic to be held without major COVID-19 restrictions.
However, The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has advised the country's contingent to curtail their public appearances and stay indoors in view of the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier on Friday, India opened their campaign with a 5-0 victory over minnow Ghana.
The Savita Punia-led team was, however, far from impressive in its first Pool A game.
Gurjit Kaur (3rd, 39th minutes) scored a brace, while Neha Goyal (28th), Sangita Kumari (36th) and Salima Tete (56th) struck a field goal each for India.
Even though India dominated the match in all departments, it was a lacklustre performance from them in the first two quarters as Ghana's defence produced a resolute show to frustrate their fancied opponents.
Indian Women's Squad for CWG 2022
Goalkeepers: Savita (captain), Rajani Etimarpu Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (vice captain), Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita; Midfielders: Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika, Neha, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Salima Tete; Forwards: Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi, Sangita Kumari.
