Despite ban, stadiums see sporting activities
LUCKNOW:Despite blanket ban on all sporting activities at various stadiums by the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate, a few districts have allowed partial resumption of activities at stadiums coming under them.
The move, however, have led to a controversy in Jhansi where a man died due to heart attack while playing badminton at Major Dhaynchand Stadium on Wednesday. The incident has brought focus back on violation of WHO protocols at these sports centres. “At least 15-20 players are playing at two courts in the badminton hall daily, taking no serious care of the WHO guidelines, including the proper sanitization and even social distancing,” said a former badminton player. “The ministry of home affairs (MHA) hasn’t allowed the sporting activities, except the gym and that too with following of all WHO protocols, whereas the Sports Authority of India has issued certain SOP to follow but here no one is following them,” he said. Jhansi’s regional sports officer, Suresh Bonkar, said the man who died this morning at the badminton court was already suffering from heart problem and this wasn’t the case of corona.
He confirmed that it was the district administration, which allowed the stadium authorities to start the sporting activities since June. “We have been following all possible measures to keep people safe,” he said but failed to explain as how the 15-20 people playing on one two badminton courts are following the social distancing norms.
UP’s director, sports, RP Singh said that all sports activities, except yoga and walking activities, are closed across the state since March 25 when the countrywide lockdown was announced. “All sports activities across the state are closed and it’s a decision of the local district administration to run the activities at sporting venues. We have no control over this,” he said.
In fact, the officials in the district administration themselves want physical activities, including gym and badminton playing so they have sanctioned routine activities. Even I too have been told by the district magistrate to start the gym and the multipurpose hall, but I am not considering the demand as its going to be very risky,” said a regional sports officer on condition of anonymity. He also confirmed that state government’s recreation centre for the bureaucrats at the CSI Institute in Lucknow too have reported frequent sporting activities by the bureaucrats’ even during the lockdown period. “When the bureaucrats themselves are not following the corona protocols and busy in sporting activities in Lucknow, then how can you expect the officials in the districts to put a ban on sporting activities ?” he asked.