Drag-flicker Varun Kumar says contracting COVID-19 was unlike any other setback

Indian hockey team's drag-flicker Varun Kumar says feeling of contracting dely COVID-19 virus was "unlike any or" setback he h faced in his career and he is happy that he has come out of it.

Kumar was one of six national team hockey players, including captain Manpreet Singh, who h tested positive for coronavirus at Sports Authority of India Centre in Bangalore in August. All of m have recovered from dreed disease.

"As sportsmen, you face a lot of different challenges in your career. re are ups and downs, frustration when you can't score, disappointment of defeats and joys of winning. But this feeling of having tested positive for Covid-19 was unlike any or," youngster said.

"I felt like I h a moral responsibility towards everyone around me, to ensure I don't end up passing it to someone else. And I am really happy that all six of us could recover well," ded defender from Punjab.

Kumar, who was a part of FIH Junior World Cup winning India team in 2016, said SAI and Hockey India ensured that all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines are followed by players.

"Hockey India and SAI provided us with best of facilities to tackle this challenge. It was due to ir efforts that we mand to survive this unusual storm, and care we received from all quarters meant that we could eliminate virus without causing any dam to anyone," he said in a release.

He said players are w following to 'T' instructions of chief coach Graham Reid and scientific visor to return to ir best.

"We are on right path, and having resumed sports activities, I feel like I am regaining my rhythm. re is better feeling than playing hockey, and having been away from it, you get a sense of what you've missed out on as well." 

Im credits: Hockey India / PTI