Shuttlers Ashwini, Lakshya return to training

Top shuttlers Ashwini Ponnappa and Lakshya Sen are among the many 20-odd Indian gamers who’ve began coaching on the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) in Bengaluru as the game took its first step in direction of resumption after the COVID-19 hiatus.

Confined to their houses for greater than two months because of the nationwide lockdown to comprise the well being disaster, the shuttlers began coaching at PPBA after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) laid down guidelines for resumption of coaching late final month.

“Some top national players have been training for last two weeks here. We have 16 courts spread out and about 20 India players are currently practising here. We have separate timings and sessions,” Vimal Kumar, head coach and director, PPBA instructed PTI. “Most of the trainees out of the total 65 are currently not in the city but they are very keen to come and start training.”

Vimal stated coaching is elective at this stage. “We have sent out a mail that they should come in batches of 6 or 10 as they have to go through two weeks of home quarantine,” he stated. “People coming from Maharashtra need to go through institutional quarantine so we have asked them to avoid that. We are not forcing anyone to come.”

The gamers coaching presently embody doubles exponent Ashwini, a three-time Commonwealth Games medallist, former World No. 13 Ajay Jayaram, and Lakshya, who had a stellar season with 5 titles final 12 months. Besides, India regulars Mithun Manjunath, BM Rahul Bharadwaj and Maisnam Meiraba are additionally coaching there. The former India coach stated being away from the sport for such a very long time has doubtless affected the sharpness of the highest gamers and they’ll want round six weeks to get going.

“For the elite players, it will be very tough for them because in these 2-3 months, they must have lost 30-40 per cent of their sharpness, the overall level would have dropped. It will take them a month and a half to get back into good shape,” he stated.

Vimal stated initially the gamers will probably be specializing in endurance and dealing on their reflexes. “The players have been following fitness programs so they are not totally unfit but badminton involves a lot of skill so their reflexes can go down due to the lockdown. So they will be building on physical strength and endurance,” he stated.

“There are no tournaments in sight right now but they have to train presuming that they can play in September. It is an opportunity as you can build their base, plan systematically during this break.”

Vimal, 57, doesn’t see Hyderabad Open Super 100 event occurring in August however he’s pleased that Badminton World Federation (BWF) has provide you with a revised calendar with a point out of the occasion because it provides hope to the gamers.

“I don’t see Hyderabad Open happening in August but BWF is at least trying and they have made a mention like that. It gives a lot of positivity to the players, they can look at that and prepare but whether the event will happen, it depends on a lot of factors,” he stated.

Asked what are the security protocols which are in place at PPBA, which is inside the Padukone-Dravid Centre of Excellence, Vimal stated he doesn’t imagine in an excessive amount of policing however they’ve taken sure measures.

“When they come, their temperatures are taken at the gate. We don’t allow any visitors, so everything is fine, it is just that the swimming pools and gyms are not accessible right now,” he stated.

“But we don’t want to be policing our players. I keep telling the youngsters to take the responsibility to take care of themselves, not to mix with anyone. They have all been given instructions to maintain the best hygiene and get on with it. I have told them clearly if one gets cold or falls sick, whole program gets stalled, so all have to be responsible.”

Vimal additionally feels sports activities shouldn’t be clubbed with recreation. “In India, sports in not a priority, it doesn’t get a mention anywhere. It shouldn’t be combined with recreation. Sportspeople have responsibility, health really matters in sports, they are responsible and they can take care, so they have to be allowed,” he stated.