(Image source from: rediff.com)

The Indian women’s hockey team had to cancel its tour to China which had been scheduled to be from 14th to 25th of March regarding the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. This had led to the Indian women’s hockey team with a difficult task of finding an opponent to compete with as a part of the preparation that is being done for the Olympics.

The women’s hockey team of India has been scheduled to travel to China from 14th to 25th of March but due to the rapid spreading of the coronavirus, it had to cancel its trip. It has been recorded that the coronavirus has claimed the lives of around 636 people and had infected more than 31,161 people.

The top teams which includes Argentina, Belgium, Australia, Germany, China, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand and United States are said to be competing in the FIH Pro Hockey League.

Rani Rampal who is the Indian skipper has said that as several teams are participating in the Pro hockey league there are not many teams available to practice with as the trip to China has been canceled.

She has added saying that there are only less than five months left for the Olympics and that the time is very crucial for the preparation for the quadrennial event.

The uncertainty looming over the schedule of India to visit China, the Indian women’s hockey team will only be left with free time for just three weeks prior to heading to a training and preparatory camp on the 6th of April.

The tour of Indian women’s hockey team to New Zealand has come to and end on Wednesday and the Indian team is said to be scheduled to go through a training for four weeks and a conditioning camp from the 16th of February to the 14th of March.

The tour to China that has been canceled due to the rapid spreading of the coronavirus which has recorded to be started in the Wuhan city of China and had spread over 25 countries claiming the lives of several people and many more being affected by the deadly novel coronavirus, is said to have a great effect on the women’s hockey team of India as it has been scheduled in order to practice for the Olympics. With the trip getting canceled, the Indian women’s hockey team does not have many teams to practice with as several other teams are said to be taking part in the Pro hockey league.

By Shrithika Kushangi