Ministry ‘cannot rush into decision’ on resumption of outdoor training in track and field

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday stated they “cannot rush into a decision” on resuming outside coaching for monitor and discipline stars and threat their well being amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla.

Taking inventory of the state of affairs throughout a digital assembly, Rijiju interacted with prime monitor and discipline athletes, together with javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and sprinter Hima Das.

The assembly was additionally attended by prime officers of AFI, coaches and athletes from NIS Patiala and Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre, Bangalore.

“The minister said it will take some time to come to a decision (regarding resuming outdoor training). He said the health and safety of athletes is paramount and so the ministry will have to be careful in this difficult times and cannot rush into a decision,” Sumariwalla informed PTI.

The assembly lasted greater than two hoursOn Monday, Rijiju had stated coaching of elite athletes will resume after the lockdown to comprise the pandemic is lifted, urging sportspersons and stakeholders to be affected person. He additionally added that well being of the athletes is his prime precedence.

During the digital interplay, the athletes as soon as once more requested the minister to permit them to renew coaching outdoor, however in batches.

“The athletes said if it is possible to have training outside in small batches in different times. The minister said the ministry will have discussions internally and see according to the situation to have some Standard Operating Procedures,” Sumariwalla added.

Athletes in NIS had earlier written to the sports activities minister to permit them outside coaching in small batches and in several occasions whereas following social distancing norms of the federal government. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra had additionally taken up the matter with the upper authorities within the authorities.

The nationwide camps at SAI centres have been shut since mid-March to comprise the virus, which has contaminated over 65,000 individuals and precipitated greater than 2,000 deaths in India.

Track and discipline athletes have been requesting the ministry to permit them to coach throughout the campuses of the SAI centres they’re primarily based in however haven’t bought the nod up to now.

Sporting actions have come to a grinding halt because of the pandemic that originated within the Chinese metropolis Wuhan in Hubei province.

Tokyo Olympics-bound ladies’s 20km race walker Bhawana Jat stated the minister inquired about how they’ve been managing when it comes to weight loss plan, health and normal properly being.

“I said we are doing well but we have been inside our rooms for more than a month. I asked him if it is feasible to take a round of walk inside the campus for a short time or something like that,” Jat stated.

“He said he will take the inputs from all of us and look into them. He told all of us to bear with the situation in this difficult time,” the athlete added.