Sports in pandemic: No time for games, pandemic keeps sporting activities at bay

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, JULY 29

The entire sports calendar this year has been in pandemic’s grasp with no signs of slipping out of it. All competitions were wiped off, preparation of players severely hit ever since the virus broke out and the ensuing lockdown did the rest of work.

A screeching halt of all sporting activities was witnessed in the state. With their respective games shuttered, the players and coaches were confined to their houses.

All of it was so sudden and plans were thrown so off balance that they are still picking up the pieces. Many prominent faces gained weight – especially in April — and saw their fitness levels dwindle drastically. Coming down to the national level players, even a nutritious diet was something they have had hard time getting their hands onto as they could neither stock nor buy it due to the closure of shops and markets.

Prabhdeep, an athelete, says “In track and field games players depend upon 33 per cent nutritious diet, 33 per cent training and equal proportionate of technique.” But the recent times had deprived him of it.

There are many individual sports like shot put, discus throw, high jump, long jump and others where implements can be easily sanitised and social distancing is conveniently possible.

The school and university level games also suffered. A complete year of all beginners of sports has been washed away as the pandemic enforced closure at that time when new sessions start ie March and April. Thus, educational institutions saw a big fall in sports quota admissions as many did not enroll themselves in games at all. Similarly, competitions like inter-school, inter-district games, inter-state games etc could not be held. Usually, these competitions commence from July-August and help in gradation besides future job prospects.

Ishwanpreet Singh, a national level swimmer, rues that he could not participate in Senior State Championships, usually held in July or August, which could have paved his way for the Senior National. “This championships is very helpful in getting jobs,” he says, before lamenting the lack of infrastructure, “Since we do not have an indoor gymnasium in the entire district we lost touch with the game when the winter had set in last November.” And then the pandemic struck down his and his peers’ plans. There are 28 swimming players, including eight girls, in the district. Of these, 14 have participated in national competitions.

Meanwhile, a large number of sports infrastructure available in the city remained underutilised. The holy city boasts off grounds like the Gandhi Ground, used for cricket, Guru Nanak stadium, for athletics, hockey and bodybuilding, wrestling stadium, the swimming pool and gymnasium in Gol Bagh, badminton hall, hockey AstroTurf, swimming pool, a football ground, velodrome and an archery in Guru Nanak Dev University remained out of bound for players.

So, it was natural that many players and coaches are flaying the government for ignoring the sports altogether and not chalking out any plans to help them in maintaining minimal physical contact and training level. Eventually, coaches moved to online mode of training. They started video-conferencing, online sessions and telephones to get in touch with players. For physical fitness, players carried out practice at their houses, came up their own equipments. But all along these months technical training remained fully suspended. Experts are of the view that touch and exchange of breathe are almost unavoidable in many games – boxing, swimming, tennis, badminton to name a few. A small mistake can prove costly for the health of players which would have a cascading impact on their long term career.

Though Union and state government initiated several measures under the unlocking phases – NIT Patiala resumed amid stringent restrictions — but many games remain untouched.

“The department got instructions to open up three games, including yoga, golf and athletics for players,” says Gurlal Singh, district sports officer. He added: “Gradually all games would be opened but competitions may take some time to take place.”

He says that these restrictions were neither state nor district specific. He also told that at many places stadiums were converted into hospitals to house the virus-stricken patients.

Quotes:

. Rankirat Singh Sandhu, athletics coach

Liquor vends, public places like roads and malls were opened but playgrounds continue to remain unbound for players where at least they can ensure social distancing. At international level many have resumed, the resumption should be fast-tracked as players are losing that feel of competing which takes them to extra-mile amid preparations.

. Vinod Sangwan, a swimming coach:

As far as swimming is concerned, government has taken the right decision as the infection spreads rapidly in the water. Swimming with a player infected with cough and cold is sure enough to pass on the infection to other players.

. Neetu Bala, gymnastic coach and international technical official

Physical fitness was maintained through online classes. Each batch containing 20 players trained through an app. It is necessary for this game as it demands body preparation, flexibility, zumba, belle dance, strength training. If we do not keep them engaged they will have to start afresh after such a long gap.

. Ishwanpreet Singh, a national level swimmer:

I participated in senior national and All India Inter-University Games. In an aerobic game like swimming, gym comes secondary, which was not allowed. Third comes running which was allowed on roads a month ago. However, long exposure to road running can be harmful to body, and last is cycling but it does not burn enough calories. And the feel of water is the most important thing for a swimmer.

. Harnoor Singh, a discus thrower:

Having played in the National Junior Athletics Championships last year and National School Games in 2018 I was to prepare for Under-20 this year. I was expecting tougher competition there to improve the throw with 1.75 kg iron ball from 53.34 meter to a new level. However, the Asian Junior Athletic Championship to be held in Bangkok in May got postponed.

. Anikta Sachdeva, a gymnast,

I had taken part in the third Dubai International Rhythmic Gymnastics TU Cup held in 2018. The game requires certain infrastructure and equipment like floor, arena, gymnasium and other operatives which one cannot keep at home. Despite working out through video-conferencing as per coach’s instructions, we were certain that many flaws in movements would have gone unnoticed. Four hours daily in two sessions are required for daily training.

BOX: Prominent players of the district

Arjuna awardees Harcharan Singh Brig (Retd), hockey, and Suman Sharma (basketball), Olympians Hardeep Singh Bhullar (kabaddi), Balwinder Singh (hockey), Jugraj Singh (hockey), Dilpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh (hockey), 2018 Asian Games bronze medallists, Arpinder Singh (triple jump), gold medallist at 2018 Asian Games, Gurjeet Kaur (hockey), a silver medallist at 2018 Asian games, Navjot Kaur Dhillon (discuss thrower) and bronze winner at 2018 Commonwealth games.