Indian men’s hockey team striker Mandeep Singh has admitted that the time he’s spent while recovering from COVID-19 has been the most “stressful” one.
Mandeep is one of the six men hockey players who had tested positive for COVID-19. Skipper Manpreet Singh had also tested positive. The players tested positive at the team’s training base last month after having arrived for the national camp.
Mandeep was the first player to be admitted in the hospital. All the six players have recovered and have started their individual training sessions.
“I think we had read and heard so much about the pandemic being a deadly disease, the first few days were stressful and anxious after testing positive for the virus.
“Although I have been in some of the most difficult match-situations as a professional hockey player, I had never felt this stressed,” Mandeep said in a Hockey India release.
“I was never taken away in an ambulance, never been seriously injured either. So, this phase was a new experience for me. After recovering, they (Hockey India) even gave us an option to return home to take a break if we felt like it but we wanted to stay back and rejoin the rest of the group,” said the forward, who scored maximum goals for India in 2019 season.
The 25-year-old appreciated the team for their help and support during their recovery phase from the deadly virus.
“Chief coach Graham Reid is also constantly monitoring how we feel during a session. It feels good to be back with the rest of the group. I feel relieved to be fine and recovered fully.”
The FIH Hockey Pro League is restarting from Tuesday. Mandeep has stated that he feels great to see the resumption of sporting activities around the world.