A break too long...
The Asian Games gold medal-winning heptathlete — left without any equipment or gear — has to make do with basic exercises at home, often improvising to lift her nieces and nephew for squats.
before resuming her regular routine.
“If they do open the premises for training, it will be very good for us. We’ll be able to practise. I’m a heptathlete; I have to learn many techniques, and I have to train for many disciplines. I’m not able to do much in the courtyard; just some basic exercises. If the ground opens, I would like to go. However, the COVID19 cases are going up. Let the situation stabilise a bit, then I’ll be able to focus solely on my training when I return,” Swapna said.
Swapna had been training to reach her peak tness in the leadup to the Olympics, for which she hopes to qualify. After spending much of 2019 recovering from injury — a meniscus tear — she was gearing up for the Olympic qualiers before the pandemic impeded her progress.
“Last year, I went to Mumbai and consulted a doctor. I was told to do certain exercises to improve my strength level, and I do that even today. I have practised a lot for the Olympic trials. I don’t know whether I’ll be able to qualify for the Olympics but I never lost hope and practised a lot for the trials. The virus brought everything to a halt,” she said. “The coronavirus has spread worldwide, so everyone’s suering. Athletes from other countries are suering, too.”
For the moment, she is spending time with her family. “I try to cope by spending time with my nieces and nephew — eightyearold Adrija, twoyearold Adrishya, and veyearold Ankit — and help my sisterinlaw with cooking,” she said.
Swapna pays a lot of attention to her diet. “I like to have sweets, especially rasgulla, but I’m not having it. Plenty of green vegetables are available here. I’m having vegetables, and instead of roti, I’m having rice, because everyone at home is used to eating rice. Rotis are cooked only occasionally. And I occasionally take chicken as well; although I don’t like it, I have it for health reasons,” she said.
She has not been able to participate in online classes or discussions organised by SAI. “I do have internet at home, but I haven’t been able to participate in webinars as the connection is very slow and intermittent.”
Outdoor training is also out of bounds. “I have a ground nearby where I can go and train, but now it is covered with slush due to rain. Also, if I go out, it doesn’t look nice that I’m training outdoors and the rest are indoors to prevent the spread of the virus,” she pointed out.
As far as her postresumption plans are concerned, Swapna awaits instructions and guidance from her coach, Subhash Sarkar. “I have put on some weight, although that’s not a big problem. I have to rst improve my tness. I will aim to get to a reasonable level within a week or so,” she said.