Football
2023 Women World Cup: Scare as star collapsed, rushed to the hospital
The report reaching National Daily reveals that there has been a scare at the ongoing Women World Cup as Columbia star Linda Caicedo has been rushed to hospital after falling ill during training.
It has been reported that the 18-year-old was jogging round a practice pitch before she suddenly slowed down and clutched her chest.
She then fell to the floor as teammates rushed to her side.
The Real Madrid forward was rushed to hospital where she received treatment following the scare.
Following the incident, a statement revealed Caicedo had lost consciousness for around 90 seconds.
A Colombian FA medical staff member was quoted as saying: ‘Linda is very tired.
‘What happened was just a symptom of all the stress and physical demands. She is well and all is back to normal.’
Caicedo has been an inspiration to many in her footballing career, after beating ovarian cancer to get back on the pitch.
She was diagnosed at the age of 15, just a year after she started playing professionally.
Ahead of the World Cup, Caicedo told supporters: ‘I am an example that you can get out of that and overcome this.’
She added she is able to avoid the ‘big pressure’ of football by staying ‘humble, talented and joyful.’
Caicedo scored in the squad’s last game with South Korea, which saw her side win 2-0.
A successful penalty kick from Catalina Usme – Colombia’s leading goal scorer – was followed by the teenager’s goal late in the first half.
Columbia’s World Cup got off to a rocky start after a pre-tournament friendly with Ireland was called off after the game became ‘overly physical.’
Midfielder Denise O’Sullivan was taken to hospital with a shin injury and the game was halted after just 20 minutes following a number of rough challenges.
‘It was something I had never experienced before in my 47 years being involved in football, not as a player, not as a coach,’ coach Vera Pauw Pauw told Sky Sports.
Columbia – nicknamed Las Cafeteras in keeping with the men’s team – take on Germany this Sunday in Group H.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side enjoyed an easy win over Morocco on Monday, netting six goals past the African debutants.