Mumbai, Nov 26 : , The International Hockey Federation (FIH), has put on hold the next month’s Junior Women’s World Cup in South Africa due to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.The FIH decision was made just hours after Hockey England announced that it would not send its team to South Africa due to a travel ban imposed in the United Kingdom.
There are indications that other countries will follow the example of Hockey England as they fear the spread of the novel Coronavirus variant. “Following the spread of a new coronavirus type in South Africa, The International Hockey Federation (FIH), South African Hockey Association, and the North-West University of Potchefstroom decided that the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup South Africa 2021 originally planned in Potchefstroom between 5-16 December, will not take place under these circumstances,” the FIH stated in a statement posted on its official website.
“The safety and well-being of all participants in the FIH events are our top priority.Many countries, including some of the participants, have increased their travel restrictions to South Africa and even halted flights.
It is simply not possible to continue this event as planned.This is extremely disappointing,” Thierry Weil, CEO of FIH, stated.
“An FIH junior world cup is crucial for the development and growth of young players.It was also the first time an FIH world cup was to be held on African soil.
Weil said that FIH would like to thank all teams and local organisers for their cooperation and understanding.
The report stated that FIH will continue to monitor the situation and will make a decision as soon as possible about staging the 2021 FIH Women’s Hockey Junior World Cup.
England pulled out of the event earlier, claiming that it was impossible to travel to South Africa due to a travel ban imposed by the United Kingdom.
The England team was scheduled to travel to Potchefstroom this Sunday, but the United Kingdom government placed South Africa on the travel red list.
This list carries significant restrictions and guidelines for travel, as well as a quarantine period upon arrival back in the UK.England Hockey stated Friday.
England was placed in Pool B with Canada, Brazil, and Uruguay in the 16-team tournament.
England pulled out of the Junior Men’s World Cup at Bhubaneswar earlier due to the spread of Covid-19 India.
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