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THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q THURSDAY Q MAY 20, 2021 11 Sunil Chhetri returns for IOC reassures anxious Japan World Cup qualifiers in Qatar Olympics will be safe New Delhi, May 19: In- RT-PCR COVID-19 tests NEW DELHI, MAY had been problems in the dian football talisman Sunil conducted in the last 48 19: The International reservation systems for Chhetri on Wednesday hours.Prior to their depar- Olympic Committee (IOC) medical staff, it said.The likened the national team ture, all of them were serv- reassured an anxious Japan slow pace of vaccinations of setup with his home and ex- ing quarantine in the na- on Wednesday that the doctors and nurses has pressed his relief at return- tional capital since May 15. Tokyo Olympics would be been among the complaints ing to where he belongs after Head coach Igor Stimac safe for athletes as well as cited by medical groups that missing two international stated that although it is not the host community, amid oppose the Games. friendlies due to COVID-19 the 'ideal situation' ahead of mounting opposition to the Bach said the IOC would infection. the June Qualifiers, the Blue Games and fears it will fuel a do its part to keep the The 36-year-old Indian Tigers will be putting in 'in- spike in COVID-19 cases. Japanese public safe, by captain, international foot- tense' sessions during the Speaking in Tokyo along- having additional medical ball's second highest scorer camp before their matches side senior Japanese offi- personnel as part of the among active players, is set get underway. cials, IOC chief Thomas NOC delegations to support to feature in the three up- "It's not an ideal situation Bach said he believed more the medical operations and coming joint 2022 FIFA as we move ahead to the than 80 per cent of resi- the strict implementation of World Cup and 2023 Asian Qualifiers in June. Due to dents of the Olympic Village the COVID 19 countermea- Cup Qualifiers in Qatar next the pandemic, our national would be vaccinated or dence that the Games paper said. sures.Much of Japan, in- month. camp which was slated to booked for vaccination should proceed."Together Cabinet figures showed cluding the key cities of "It's such a relief to be begin in Kolkata at the be- ahead of the Games set to with our Japanese partners this week that three months Tokyo and Osaka, is under back in the national team ginning of May had to get start on July 23. and friends, I can only re- into Japan's vaccination a state of emergency until squad. After all, home is cancelled. He rejected growing calls emphasise this full commit- push, less than 40% of its month-end to rein in infec- where the heart is," Chhetri "The pandemic also to cancel the global sporting ment of the IOC to organise medical workers were fully tions. The southern prefec- was quoted as saying by the its first match. doesn't allow the original robbed us of a friendly showpiece, already delayed safe Olympic and Para- inoculated. ture of Okinawa will request All India Football Federa- "The matches in June are format of home and away match in Dubai," Stimac once due to the pandemic, lympic games for every- The problem is especially its own emergency declara- tion. extremely tough and we games. said. saying that other sporting body," Bach said. pronounced in the capital, tion as new infections Chhetri missed the In- need to take them one at a India are currently on India's fixtures: events had proved the "To accomplish this, we Tokyo, which plays host to reached record highs, it said dian team's international time. Given the fact that we three points from three June 3: India vs Qatar Olympics could go ahead are now fully focused on the the Games, and other large on Wednesday. friendlies against Oman don't have much time, the matches in Group E. (10.30pm IST) with strong COVID precau- delivery of the Olympic population centres, where Japan aims to inoculate and UAE in Dubai on preparatory camp will add Chhetri returns as Indian June 7: Bangladesh vs In- tions. Games." the rate of fully vaccinated most of its 36 million peo- March 25 and 29 respec- immense value helping all football team leaves for dia (7.30pm IST) Bach's comments came as Less than 30% of medics medical workers was less ple older than 65 by the end tively as he had just recov- to gel together, and strike Doha for WC Qualifiers June 15: India vs Japan kept up a battle with a in Japan's major cities have than 30%, the Nikkei of July. To reach that target, ered from COVID-19 infec- that chord ahead of the first Talismanic captain Sunil Afghanistan (7.30pm IST) fourth wave of infections been vaccinated against the added. it hopes to deliver about a tion. match," he added. Chhetri made a return after The Squad: though its slow vaccination coronavirus, with just 65 Much of the vaccine sup- million shots a day, or three Needless to say, he is "Doha has always had an recovering from COVID-19 Goalkeepers: Gurpreet campaign has undermined days left to the start of the ply was concentrated in times faster than the cur- looking forward to lead by emotional connection with infection as a 28-member Singh Sandhu, Amrinder already shaky public confi- Olympics, the Nikkei news- large hospitals, and there rent pace. example in the upcoming me. It was there that I played Indian football squad leaves Singh, Dheeraj Singh. matches. in the 2011 Asian Cup, and for Doha evening for the Defenders: Pritam Kotal, India are scheduled to also the AFC Cup final for three upcoming joint 2022 Rahul Bheke, Narender Why Federer can't even think of play Asian champions my club Bengaluru FC." FIFA World Cup and 2023 Gehlot, Chinglensana Qatar on June 3, National coach Igor Sti- Asian Cup Qualifiers. Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Bangladesh on June 7, and mac said the training ses- The team will have a Adil Khan, Akash Mishra, Afghanistan on June 15 sions in Doha will be in- preparatory camp inside a Subhashish Bose. winning French Open with all three matches to be tense. bio-bubble in Doha before Midfielders: Udanta NEW DELHI, MAY lose 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in his French Open?" the 20- on to just win everything played at the Jassim Bin "We understand the mag- its first match on June 3 Singh, Brandon Fernandes, 19: Roger Federer said he only tuneup event on clay times major winner told straight." Hamad Stadium in Doha. nitude of the situation, and against hosts Qatar. Liston Colaco, Rowllin is not playing well enough before the French Open reporters."I'm just realis- Federer said the next "Personally, I am eagerly it will be intense sessions in After missing the two in- Borges, Glan Martins, to have a chance of win- starts on May 30. tic that I know I will not few weeks were important looking forward to being in Doha to raise the tempo and ternational friendly matches Anirudh Thapa, Pronoy ning the French Open af- It was Federer's first win the French and who- for his season. Doha. The last time I was in try to get ready for the against Oman and the UAE Halder, Suresh Singh, ter the Swiss' prepara- match since his comeback ever thought I would or "Regardless if you play Doha, I couldn't be a part of matches which starts with in March, Chhetri is set to Lalengmawia Ralte, Abdul tions for the claycourt in Doha in March after sit- could win it is wrong. tournaments or not, if the match against Qatar ow- the one against the Asian feature in the forthcoming Sahal, Yasir Mohammad, Grand Slam were cut ting out over a year due to "Of course, crazier you're back on the Tour or ing to illness," Chhetri, who Champions Qatar in Doha," games. Lallianzuala Chhangte, short in Geneva on Tues- two knee surgeries. things might have hap- you're practising again has 72 international goals to Stimac said. As per the health parame- Bipin Singh, Ashique Ku- day. "I think when you pened, but I'm not so sure with top guys that you go his name, said. The qualifying round ters required to travel to runiyan. The 39-year-old was up played so little and you in the last 50 years at the through the rhythm ... The team will have a matches are being played in Qatar, all the players and Forwards: Ishan Pandita, 4-2 in the final set against know where your level is French Open, somebody how it feels to be back on preparatory camp inside a Doha in view of the COVID- staff will carry with them Sunil Chhetri, Manvir world number 75 Pablo at, and I think you saw just rocked up at 40- the Tour and this is then Andujar of Spain but lost that today, how can I years-old, being out for a how you start taking bet- bio-bubble in Doha before 19 pandemic situation which negative results from the Singh. the next four games to think of winning the year and a half and just go ter decisions. 'A lot of politics in Indian women's cricket!' NEW DELHI, MAY W V Raman's removal as- between the wickets or listen to the coach and not has not been affected by 19: Romesh Powar's re- coach? when fielding.