New Delhi: Hockey India on Tuesday postponed all its rescheduled national championships indefinitely after the national lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic was extended till May 3.
These tournaments were rescheduled to start on April 29 and continue till July 3 but have been suspended for now.
"...Hockey India has taken a decision to postpone the remaining annual 2020 Hockey India National Championships keeping in mind the well-being of all our stakeholders including the players, Coaches, organisers, fans and officials," Hockey India President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said.
"These tournaments have been postponed indefinitely and we will announce new dates basis the evolution of the COVID-19 situation in India," he added.
Ahmad said HI is working with the relevant central and state government departments to ensure that all necessary precautions are duly taken to maintain public health.
He said the participating member units must use this period to continue to update the member unit portal with player details.
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"We would like to thank the various Hosts and Member Units who have been extremely co-operative to accommodate the request to postpone.
"I would also like to urge all the participating Member Units to continue to update the Member's portal with player's registrations and use this time effectively," Ahmad said.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has also decided to postpone all matches and competitions scheduled to take place in May and June keeping in mind the safety of all stakeholders that include not just the players, but also the fans.
"Following the continued preventive measures and travel restrictions put in place by several governments, the Asian Football Confederation has decided today to postpone all matches and competitions scheduled to take place in May and June until further notice," an AFC statement said.
"As one of the first confederations in world football to undertake precautionary measures in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the latest decision reinforces the AFC's commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of players, participating teams, officials, fans and all stakeholders."
Earlier, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian football players were among those lauded by the AFC for their contributions towards the fight against coronavirus.
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"The All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Guam Football Association (GFA), the J.League and the Wuhan Football Association have helped by giving donations, promoting public awareness messages and opening training centres to house medical teams," AFC stated in a press release.
"...players from India - Pritam Kotal, Pronoy Halder, Prabir Das and Arindam Bhattacharjee - have contributed a combined total of Rs 145,000 to various charities and donated food, and organised feeding-the-poor programmes in the country," the AFC said.
Meanwhile, the I-League Committee announced that it will decide on the fate of the remaining 28 matches in a video call meeting at the end of the week, a top league official said.
The COVID-19 pandemic had forced the league to suspend its matches with the country initially observing a 21-day lockdown.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced an extension of the current nationwide lockdown till May 3, claiming social distancing is the only way to pass the "agni pariksha".
Mohun Bagan have won the title with four rounds to spare and will be officially crowned the I-League champions.
"No decision has been made so far on cancelling the league altogether. The League Committee will decide that in a video conference meeting," a top official told IANS on Tuesday.
"Let's see the meeting could be on Friday or over the weekend or maybe on Monday," the official added.
Besides the I-League, the second division I-League is also not finished and the AIFF could offer a solution of playing a qualifier before the start of the next season.
In the I-League, the second and third place clubs need to be determined as well as the team to be relegated to second division.
(IANS & PTI)