Simranjit Covid +ve at Delhi camp

New Delhi, April 25

Punjab boxer Simranjit Kaur, who is training at the national camp here as part of the Olympics-bound contingent, has tested positive for Covid-19. She could miss training for a fortnight, said a coach associated with the elite women’s national camp. “She is in isolation for the past four days here at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex,” said the coach.

Simranjit, 25, had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 60kg category in March last year. This month, several elite women boxers and members of the coaching staff attending the national camp at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex had tested positive for the coronavirus. “Almost all of them have recovered,” said the coach.

Boxers who are in good health are staying at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. But after Simranjit’s second Covid-19 RT-PCR test was positive, she was shifted to the Indira Gandhi Stadium, said the coach.

Last month, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) had conducted national selection trials at the Indira Gandhi Stadium to select a team for the upcoming Asian Boxing Championships.

“After the trials, some boxers and members of the coaching staff contracted the virus,” said a boxer on the condition of anonymity.

Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom (51kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg) are the other elite women boxers who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. — TNS, IANS