Wearing masks to be new challenge for players

BQ: It will be difficult to practice while wearing masks, especially for us. We have never played like this, even during practice sessions. It will also be difficult to breathe. The major part is social distancing. In our sport, it’s really difficult to follow social distancing.

— Adesh, a footballer

* Last-minutes changes

On Thursday, the UT Sports Department had almost finalised the guidelines to open local stadiums for general public and players. However, an update by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) late on Thursday evening forced the department to stop the proceedings. “The SOP was almost finalised, but the SAI and the Sports Ministry updated their guidelines in the evening, which forced us to drop our guidelines. We will have to re-assess the updated version of the guidelines to make our SOP. It will take a day or so,” said a senior official of the Sports Department.

* Disciplines categorised

The updated guidelines by the SAI, updated on Thursday, divided sports disciplines into four categories. The category A consisted of non-contacted sports (archery, shooting, cycling, fencing, athletics and others), while category B included minimal/medium contact sports (football, hockey, volleyball, handball) and indirect contact disciplines (weightlifting, tennis, badminton, table tennis). The category C has been termed as full contact sports (boxing, judo, wushu, taekwondo and wrestling), while the category D has been referred as water sports (except swimming). According to these categories, states have been asked to make their SOPs.

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 21

Though the UT Sports Department is yet to announce Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) before opening local stadiums, players are getting more curious on the use of masks, which will be mandatory during practice sessions.

Wearing masks has turned out to be the most important thing, but for players it will be most difficult to catch up their breath.

High performance athletes do wear mask, but only of PM 2.5 category, which is designed to protect them from fine particles. This particular mask forces heart and lungs to work harder. During tournament, the body uses oxygen more efficiently. It has been also said that wearing such sports masks improves speed, endurance and strength.

However, it’s not only difficult to talk while using normal masks, but also walk and run. Several players will use N95 or 3-ply masks, which are cost-efficient, for the first time in their career.

“We have no other option. All players cannot afford specialised sports masks. Normal masks are not preferred while running,” said Dr Ravinder Kahsyap, a sports medicine doctor.

“Nothing is more important than health, but wearing mask is little uneasy and sweaty. It’s mandatory to wear it and we cannot help it at the present time,” said international golfer Aadil Bedi.

“It will be difficult to practice while wearing masks, especially for us. We have never played like this, even during practice sessions. It will also be difficult to breathe. The major part is social distancing. In our sport, it’s really difficult to follow social distancing,” said Adesh, a local footballer.