Closed training facilities, schedule disruptions and canceled competitions have thrown players’ fitness and career plans into jeopardy during the pandemic, forcing officials twice to curtail activities. Students from small towns who thought that winning the region at the local or state level would help them get into good universities or companies were wondering what would happen next.
Sprinter and Eklavya Award winner Reena George spoke about how the crisis had affected the progress of professional athletes. “To achieve, we need to participate in three to four tournaments every year. We have not been able to do this for the last two years,” she said. Sticking to a workout or training routine has been a challenge. “We are unable to follow any schedule. I suffered injuries while practicing in a new gym,” she said, adding that government departments had not invited applications under players’ quota since the pandemic started.
Before March 2020, various tournaments were held in Mysore, where the annual Dussehra Sports Meet and Ranji and KPL matches attracted huge crowds. An average of 400 athletes from the University of Mysore (UOM) participate in inter-university competitions annually. Strong participation was also witnessed in Taluk, District and State level programmes.
P Krishnaiah, Director (I/C) of UOM’s Department of Physical Education, said that for many students, success in sports was the passport to higher studies and employment. “Many students miss these opportunities under sports quota,” he said.
Universities and colleges in Dharwad also had a busy calendar before the pandemic. Sprinter and BA final year student Ashok Patil said, “It was my dream to set a record in the Inter-University Athletics Meet, but the event did not take place.” “I wanted to join defense or police force under sports quota. But I will finish my degree course without any significant field achievement.”
Mangalore University registrar Kishore Kumar CK expressed concern about the long-term impact of the pandemic. “Sports meets may not get enough sponsorship due to the financial crisis,” he said, adding that 10 of the 48 events were held with health safety protocols.
Dr. Mohan Alva, President, Alva Education Foundation, Moodbidri (Dakshina Kannada) asked that if Kambala race with multiple spectators can be allowed, why can’t there be a sports competition. “Physical activity helps build immunity, improves health and acts as a natural medicine for many diseases. The stringent restrictions have snatched away the careers of thousands of players,” he said. His organization has supported many players over the past 25 years.
“In the absence of regular workout or exercise, the fitness of athletes gets derailed and mentally, they feel frustrated and lose interest. It takes a long time to gain speed and strength,” he said.
Jayalakshmi J, the captain of Karnataka The women’s ball badminton team said that after the first wave of Covid-19, they had participated in just two events. Earlier they used to take part in a dozen. “We managed to keep ourselves fit with the help of wall practice. “It took two months to get back in form after the first wave,” said Jayalakshmi, who won the Krida Ratna award in 2017.
High jumper Abhinay Shetty, who won a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Athletic Championships in 2018, practices without any equipment at a school ground in Karkala, Udupi during the first wave. “It was difficult. After the facilities reopened, it took almost two months to take shape again. After the second wave, I stayed at Alva College for training,” said Abhinaya, who is also a recipient of the Eklavya Award .
Sprinter and Eklavya Award winner Reena George spoke about how the crisis had affected the progress of professional athletes. “To achieve, we need to participate in three to four tournaments every year. We have not been able to do this for the last two years,” she said. Sticking to a workout or training routine has been a challenge. “We are unable to follow any schedule. I suffered injuries while practicing in a new gym,” she said, adding that government departments had not invited applications under players’ quota since the pandemic started.
Before March 2020, various tournaments were held in Mysore, where the annual Dussehra Sports Meet and Ranji and KPL matches attracted huge crowds. An average of 400 athletes from the University of Mysore (UOM) participate in inter-university competitions annually. Strong participation was also witnessed in Taluk, District and State level programmes.
P Krishnaiah, Director (I/C) of UOM’s Department of Physical Education, said that for many students, success in sports was the passport to higher studies and employment. “Many students miss these opportunities under sports quota,” he said.
Universities and colleges in Dharwad also had a busy calendar before the pandemic. Sprinter and BA final year student Ashok Patil said, “It was my dream to set a record in the Inter-University Athletics Meet, but the event did not take place.” “I wanted to join defense or police force under sports quota. But I will finish my degree course without any significant field achievement.”
Mangalore University registrar Kishore Kumar CK expressed concern about the long-term impact of the pandemic. “Sports meets may not get enough sponsorship due to the financial crisis,” he said, adding that 10 of the 48 events were held with health safety protocols.
Dr. Mohan Alva, President, Alva Education Foundation, Moodbidri (Dakshina Kannada) asked that if Kambala race with multiple spectators can be allowed, why can’t there be a sports competition. “Physical activity helps build immunity, improves health and acts as a natural medicine for many diseases. The stringent restrictions have snatched away the careers of thousands of players,” he said. His organization has supported many players over the past 25 years.
“In the absence of regular workout or exercise, the fitness of athletes gets derailed and mentally, they feel frustrated and lose interest. It takes a long time to gain speed and strength,” he said.
Jayalakshmi J, the captain of Karnataka The women’s ball badminton team said that after the first wave of Covid-19, they had participated in just two events. Earlier they used to take part in a dozen. “We managed to keep ourselves fit with the help of wall practice. “It took two months to get back in form after the first wave,” said Jayalakshmi, who won the Krida Ratna award in 2017.
High jumper Abhinay Shetty, who won a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Athletic Championships in 2018, practices without any equipment at a school ground in Karkala, Udupi during the first wave. “It was difficult. After the facilities reopened, it took almost two months to take shape again. After the second wave, I stayed at Alva College for training,” said Abhinaya, who is also a recipient of the Eklavya Award .
.