New Delhi, Sept 10: The Indian Hockey Federation has decided against sending the national team to Singapore on an accalimatisation trip before the start of the Asia Cup after reports of the dreaded SARS disease resurfaced in the country.
An IHF official today said the team will now proceed directly to Malaysia, venue of the September 21-28 Asia Cup, after the preparation camp winds off here on September 17.
"We had requested the government to give permission to the team to go to Singapore. But now we have changed our mind since a SARS case has been detected there," IHF protocol officer Suresh Sharma told a news agency here today. "Now we will be going to Malaysia from here on September 17," he said.
Earlier the camp at the national stadium here was scheduled to continue till September 14 before the team's departure for Singapore the next day.

Singapore health officials yesterday confirmed a local patient had contracted SARS and quarantined 25 persons he came into contact with. Bureau Report