Vinesh Covid-positive, to miss awards presentation

Tribune News Service

Panipat/New Delhi, August 28

A day before she was to receive the Khel Ratna, the country’s highest award for achievements in sports, star wrestler Vinesh Phogat has tested positive for Covid-19. Wrestling coach Om Prakash Dahiya, who is to receive the Dronacharya Award, too tested positive today.

Vinesh will be among the 14 sportspersons who would be absent from the virtual presentation of the National Sports Awards tomorrow morning. The awards will be given virtually this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic — President Ram Nath Kovind, in New Delhi, would present the awards in a virtual ceremony to the winners, who would be present at various centres across the country.

Vinesh and coach Dahiya were to be present at the mini secretariat in Sonepat tomorrow to receive their awards. However, as a precaution, all the winners were made to undergo Covid-19 tests yesterday. “My test was done on Thursday and it has come positive. I am at home right now. My family members will also get tested tomorrow. I still didn’t feel any symptoms. I am absolutely fine,” Vinesh said.

Ramesh Kumar Hooda, District Sports Officer, said that Vinesh, Dahiya, Dhyanchand Award winner Manpreet Singh (of Punjab, but living in Sonepat) and Arjuna Award winner Deepak Niwas of Rohtak were scheduled to participate in the virtual ceremony at the mini secretariat in Sonepat. Vinesh and Dahiya have been asked to self-isolate.

The awards ceremony will be attended by 60 winners. According to sources, in all eight award winners have tested positive.

Of the five Khel Ratna winners, two would be absent — Vinesh and Rohit Sharma, who is in the UAE for the IPL. Rani Rampal, Manika Batra and Mariyappan Thangavelu will be part of the awards ceremony.

Athletics coach Purshottam Rai dies

Athletics coach Purshottam Rai, who was to receive the Dronacharya Award for lifetime achievement tomorrow morning, passed away today after suffering a heart attack.