Now, sportspersons in Chandigarh want championships to be conducted

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 8

Days after the UT Administrator and Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore allowed opening of sports complexes, local sportspersons are now demanding that the UT Sports Department should also think on conducting championships, which have not been held for the past one year.

Owing to Covid-19, the department did not conduct any championship. This year’s plan has also hit hurdles due to the second wave of the pandemic. In April, it was decided to announce the annual sports calendar and all necessary permissions were taken.

“The department should think on the lines of conducting championships. To start with, individual disciplines can be organised. The players are really out-of-shape and need such tournaments to get motivated and regain form. Since it has been decided to open the complexes, small championships should be conducted just to boost the morale of players,” said a senior coach.

Annually, the department conducts age group and cash prize competitions. “These competitions should not be counted under the annual calendar. These should be organised on the basis of performance gaining events. Coaching centres should be asked to organise age group championships to deliver a positive message to trainees,” said another coach.

Even in the last session, the department was unable to organise summer camps for local trainees. “The 15-day programme (sports wing) attracts many players. The selected players get diet and training under professional coaches. However, this (camp) is not possible now,” said a senior official of the Sports Department.

Meanwhile, officials maintained that the department may take time before announcing the championship.

“While the department did not organise any championship, various sports associations had conducted some last year. The department will go by the rules book and guidance of the higher authorities. Given the present circumstances, there are no plans for conducting any event before August. However, if allowed, we can organise some events of individual disciplines within the coaching centres,” said an official.

Members eagerly await dept’s nod

Amateur and sports lovers playing for leisure activity, who become members of various sports complexes, are eagerly awaiting the department’s approval for restarting practice at various complexes. Among all sports, swimming, badminton, lawn tennis and squash attract most of the memberships. Now that the UT Administrator has approved opening of gyms, sources claimed that the department will open these facilities in the coming days after carrying out sanitisation work.