Sachin discharged, to stay in home isolation
Former India captain and batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, who was hospitalised as a precautionary measure after testing positive for Covid-19, was discharged and is now recuperating in home isolation. The former player posted a statement on Twitter to confirm the development. "I have just come home from the hospital and will remain isolated while continuing to rest and recuperate. I would like to thank everyone for all the good wishes and prayers. Really appreciate it," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar also thanked the medical staff for taking care of him during the hospitalisation. "I remain ever grateful to all the medical staff who took such good care of me & have been working tirelessly for over a year in such difficult circumstances," said Tendulkar. Tendulkar was hospitalised on April 2 as a precautionary measure after testing positive for the dreaded virus on March 27. However, all his other family members have tested negative.
Olympic-bound tennis ace Sania included in TOPS
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza was included in the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), four years after she opted out of the programme. Sania was selected in the TOPS during the 56th meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell. The 34-year-old multiple Grand Slam winner had opted out of the scheme when she was selected last in 2017 because of an injury breakdown which had led to a lay-off. “Yes, Sania has been selected in the recent TOPS list,” a Sports Authority of India source said. Sania has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics based on her protected ranking before she took a break from the game due to pregnancy.
Bhopal SAI centre: 24 athletes hospitalised
As many as 24 Indian athletes, primarily from wushu and judo disciplines, were admitted to a hospital in Bhopal after they tested positive for Covid-19 in the latest round of precautionary tests conducted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at its National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in the Madhya Pradesh capital. None of the athletes who returned positive for the infection are Tokyo bound, as the centre doesn’t house Olympic probables. The athletes have been shifted to a city’s healthcare facility as a precautionary measure and are reported to be non-critical, the SAI said. The development comes a week after 26 athletes and coaching staff were taken ill by the coronavirus at NIS Patiala. In the latest development, SAI conducted precautionary tests in NCoE Bhopal and 24 athletes and 12 staffers were found symptomatic. In another test, it was reported that as many as 18 people were infected. After overall count from the SAI’s twin testing resulted in 36 positive cases, the sports body revised its Covid standard operating procedure, calling for mandatory weekly testing of athletes and staff across all NCoE facilities nationwide.
India beat Argentina 4-3 for winning start to tour
The Indian men’s hockey team made a positive start to its tour of Argentina, beating the reigning Olympic champions 4-3 in the first practice match. Nilakanta Sharma (16th minute), Harmanpreet Singh (28th), Rupinder Pal Singh (33rd) and Varun Kumar (47th) were the goal scorers for India. Drag-flicker Leandro Tolini (35th, 53rd) and Maico Casella (41st) scored for the home team.
