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SA players out of the woods

Johannesburg - National hockey players Jonty Robinson and team captain Austin Smith have recovered from dengue fever and been discharged from hospital in Malaysia, the SA Hockey Association said on Wednesday.

“Austin and Jonty are well and will be flying out on Wednesday, both arriving at their destinations on Thursday,” said SA Hockey's CEO Marissa Langeni.

The two men contracted the mosquito-borne illness during the World League semi-finals held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, last week.

Smith flies to Amsterdam while Robinson and team doctor Gavin Shang would be flying back to South Africa.

Shang stayed by the players' sides while they were recovering in hospital.

They were moved from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur last weekend, where they received support from South African medical contacts as well as local medical staff.

While in hospital in the capital, Smith and Robinson had their blood counts closely monitored and were released - both in good spirits - once medical staff ascertained they had recovered.

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