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India will not be sending their men and women’s hockey teams for Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. In a letter to Indian Olympic Association (IOC) President Narinder Batra, Hockey India President Gyanendro Ningombam wrote cited the short period of 32 days between Commonwealth Games and Asian Games next year as the reason behind the pull out.
Reason behind non-participation
The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be played between July 28 and August 8 next year whereas Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China will kick-off on September 10 and go on till September 25. Hockey India highlighted that England is worst affected country in Europe in last 18 months and they do not want any of the players contracting the virus ahead of the Asian Games.
The main focus for Hockey India is Asian Games 2022 as it will give the team to earn a direct qualification to Paris Olympics 2024. Last time, India missed out on the qualification after bagging a bronze medal in the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta.
Indian vaccines not recognised
The 10-day quarantine period was also highlighted in the letter and termed unfair as it will help players’ performances. English government has not recognised India’s Covid-19 vaccine so far which will force the athletes to serve mandatory quarantine period. It was not the case in Tokyo Olympics where no quarantine period was imposed on the Indian team.
Hockey India aims to improve on their performance in recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020. Manpreet Singh-led side won the bronze medal whereas Rani Rampal-led side narrowly missed out on one.
