KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Women's Hockey Special Project Squad were finally allowed to return home today after being dropped from the 2021 Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) Championship, in Donghae, South Korea from Dec 5-11.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) said in a statement that the team, which had been quarantined since arriving there on Nov 29 after a player tested positive for Covid-19, left for home at 10.30am South Korean time (9.30am Malaysian time) on Monday (Dec 13).
The "Malaysian Tigress" are expected to arrive at KL International Airport (KLIA) at 7.40pm and will undergo mandatory quarantine set by the Malaysian government.
“However, two of the team's players who were the latest to test positive for Covid-19 during a recent swab test screening, still have to undergo a quarantine process there (South Korea) which will end soon.
"Head coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim and team manager Siti Noor Amarina Ruhani will remain in Donghae with the two players to ensure their welfare and safety are taken care of," said the statement.
MHC had confirmed earlier that national player Nurul Faezah Shafiqah Khalim tested positive for Covid-19 upon screening when the team arrived on Nov 29, which caused the entire national team to be quarantined from Dec 1, and being excluded from the tournament.
Meanwhile, the "Speedy Tigers" (national men's squad) also had to forget about men’s ACT action in Dhaka, Bangladesh from tomorrow until Dec 22, when striker Faizal Saari tested positive during a screening conducted on Dec 8.
This led to the entire team undergoing self-quarantine. – Bernama
