‘Quarantraining’ will be no cakewalk, say NSI

A month of quarantine-like centralised training for the Road to Tokyo athletes and officials will not be a cakewalk and many will have to adapt to the new norm of the Covid-19 era.

There will also be “consequences” if the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are not adhered to.

However, many of the top athletes have been through similar experiences, albeit for shorter periods, and they should be able to cope, the National Sports Institute (NSI) believes.

NSI sports psychology officer Philip Lew Chun Foong said the athletes also have a week to prepare mentally for the camp.

The government has given the nod for 57 and 208 supports staff – coaches and officials – to undergo training in Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara and National Sailing Centre in Langkawi.

The athletes in the camp will not be allowed to be in contact with the outside world for a whole month, and the stint may then be extended.

“We know some athletes are excited to get back to training and some worried over how the centralised camp will be. From a psychological point of view, the athletes need to be ready to manage their expectations when they enter the camp... they are the pioneers of the new normal,” said Philip who is the NSI team leader for sailing.

“This camp is not a vacation, there will strict SOPs, it can be something like a military camp. There will be consequences if athletes do not follow the SOPs.

“We hope athletes will take the camp like of their training abroad. They will not be able to meet their families or friends.”

“I believe most national athletes have been in camps for major games like the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games before so they will understand what they will go through.

Philip also allayed fears of boredom and monotony and said the NSI have plans to keep the athletes mentally stimulated during their off days in camp.

“There are plans to have recreational activities for the athletes during this camp, we don’t want the athletes to be overly focused on their training. The activities are still being planned and it will be done according to SOP like social distancing,” he added.