A tale of contrasts as sport sputters to life
NEWDELHI:ON a day the boxing federation decided to put on hold plans for training, India’s shooters were informed that attendance would be compulsory at a proposed preparatory camp. Both camps are scheduled from August 1.
The shooters and boxers are preparing for the Olympics which has been deferred to 2021 because of the pandemic.
A doctor, Amol Patil, associated with the boxing squads tested Covid positive in Patiala on Monday. Patil has been shifted to state-run quarantine centre in the city. Three members of the coaching staff staying with him are under observation. Though all 11 boxers tested negative for Covid-19, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) isn’t keen on beginning the camp now. “Safety is important at this moment,” said Jay Kowli, secretary BFI. “Since we aren’t experts, we have sought medical opinion whether to restart the camp from the end of this month.”
By then, 34 shooters, who are part of the Tokyo Olympics core group, will have to report in New Delhi should a plan by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) be approved by the Sport Authority of India (SAI). The list includes 15 who have won quota places for India and the reserves in each category.
“It was decided in the governing body meeting to start the national camp of the Olympians first. The shooters need to get back to training. Other countries have all started—usa, Germany, France, Italy. Our shooters should not be demoralised,” said NRAI general secretary DV Seetharama Rao.
Coaches, athletes and support staff will be hosted on the campus of the Manav Rachna University in Faridabad not far from the Karni Singh range which was re-opened by SAI last week. Separate
lanes have been made for rifle and pistol shooters, maintaining a gap of at least two firing points between them in keeping with physical distancing norms.
The university, an NRAI partner, will also serve as quarantine and isolation facility for shooters and coaches.
“They have a huge complex so we can segregate and take all safety precautions following all the Covid-19 protocols of SAI. We will appoint a few people to supervise proper hygiene, etc. The place will be completely sanitised and these people will not be able to leave and nobody will be allowed to meet till the camp is on,” said Rao.
The boxers, including the nine who have qualified for Tokyo, too had planned to resume training and last week, BFI prepared a list