India’s Winter Games manager tests positive

BEIJING: The manager of India’s Winter Olympics contingent, Mohammad Abbas Wani, has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at the Beijing Airport here. Abbas Wani is a part of the six-member Indian delegation at the Winter Olympics where Jammu and Kashmir skier Arif Khan is the only athlete from the country to have qualified this time. Arif will be competing in Slalom and Giant Slalom events during the Games.

The contingent also includes Harjinder Singh as its chef de mission, Ludar Chand Thakur as alpine coach, Puran Chand as technician and Roop Chand Negi as team official.

“I am in quarantine in my hotel room at Olympic village & have been asked to restrict my movement within the room only until the results of my 2nd Covid test. I am completely fine & asymptomatic,” he tweeted.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra informed about Abbas Wani’s positive COVID result and said chef de mission Harjinder is coordinating with the Winter Olympics organisers for a re-test.

“The manager of the Indian contingent Mr. Abbas Wani tested COVID positive at Beijing Airport. The chef de mission Mr. Harjinder Singh is coordinating for a re-test.

“The athlete and his coach have been shifted to another flat to avoid any interaction,” Batra said. The Winter Olympics will be held from February 4 to 20.

Meanwhile, China on Wednesday fielded Qi Fabao, the regimental commander of the People’s Liberation Army, who was injured during the June 2020 border skirmish with Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, as a torchbearer for the Games Torch Relay. Qi took the flame from Wang Meng, China’s four-time Olympic short track speed skating champion, at Winter Olympic Park, the state-run Global Times newspaper reported.

On February 4, the Olympic flame, after being relayed by about 1,200 torchbearers, will light the main cauldron at the National Stadium to mark the beginning of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.