Everyone has accepted the reality that we have to live with Covid-19 for a considerable period but the CWG 2022 had different rules for playing with it for Tahlia McGrath and Aneesh Pillai
Among several walks of life, sports was also affected by the novel coronavirus and hence the players had to go quarantine, self-isolations like any other individual.
However, with declining cases after almost 2 years, the bubbles, closed environment had gotten rid of and self-isolation became the solution to cases in every sport.
Aneesh Pillai Wasn’t Allowed To Take Part In Discus Throw Final After Testing Positive For COVID-19 While Tahlia McGrath Was Playing With The Virus At Commonwealth (CWG) 2022 Games
A week ago, Bronze medalist from 2018, Aneesh Pillai of India wasn’t allowed to compete in his event after he tested positive for COVID-19
Yesterday, Australia’s Tahlia McGrath plays in the womens cricket final despite testing positive for the same virus pic.twitter.com/CcAaHxN2yK
— Aniket Mishra (@aniketmishra299) August 8, 2022
Tahila McGrath represents a country that ensured Novak Djokovic was deported and not allowed to play in Aus Open for being unvaccinated and was called a threat. When it came to one of their own – it was okay to let her play with covid?
— Karishma Singh (@karishmasingh22) August 7, 2022
Beth Mooney on Tahlia McGrath testing positive for Covid and how players ended up hugging her after the final wicket#INDWvsAUSW #CommonwealthGames2022 #CWG22 #CWGindia2022 #CWG2022India #CWG2022 #TahliaMcGrath pic.twitter.com/noKbJkgwfG
— OneCricket (@OneCricketApp) August 8, 2022
Now even if a player tested positive, the whole team will undergo testing and if they turned out to be negative they all can play but the one who turned out to be positive can’t.
This is the general rule which has been followed worldwide across various sports but as a surprise to everyone, this rule was bent on Sunday.
On Sunday, Australian all-rounder Tahlia McGrath was allowed to play in the Commonwealth Games 2022 final against India despite him finding out to be corona positive.
McGrath wasn’t just telling her teammates to stay away from her, instead being an all-rounder she was touching the ball and even she was batting alongside Beth Mooney. Later she was allowed to be a part of the medal ceremony as well.
In a report released by Cricket Australia (CA), it was published that in consultation with CGF and ICC, McGrath was allowed to play and there were a few protocols to be followed by her to minimize the risk of transmission.
CA released citing that, “CGA clinical staff have consulted with the Commonwealth Games Federation RACEG (Results Analysis Clinical Expert Group) team and match officials, and McGrath is taking part in today’s final against India”.
However, this wasn’t the case when last week an Indian athlete, Aneesh Pillai, a para discus thrower wasn’t allowed to take part in the men’s final after his Covid-19 test turned out to be positive despite him being asymptomatic.
Para officials of India have told PTI that, “He is asymptomatic but has tested COVID positive. The CGF did not clear his participation as his CT value is on the higher side. It is really unfortunate as he had his final today”.
It was indeed unfortunate for Pillai that he had to miss his finals after testing positive but that should have been the case on Sunday too as it is said, different rules for different players but not the first time though.
India has been seeing the favouritism and biases decision in Commonwealth Games 2022 and the Sunday thing wasn’t the new one, yet no one is saying anything!