CHANDIGARH: Punjab Sports and Youth Services Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi today said that the sports department is planning to resume individual training sessions for the sportsperson in athletic games, in view of the constant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases across the state.
In a press statement, the sports minister said that the department is now imparting virtual training to the players in various sports to prevent them from corona pandemic and also started conditioning the athletes. “And, as the reports of increase in the attendance of the players in the first week of October are pouring in, we are planning to resume normal practice sessions for some individual sports disciplines such as athletics, run, archery, shooting, javelin throw, shot put, long and high jump, weightlifting, gymnastic and cycling etc.”, maintained Rana Sodhi, adding that in these sports disciplines, players are not coming in direct physical contact to each other rather share equipments only.
The Sports Minister categorically said that the health protocols have been sought from the health department for the smooth conduct of the individual training sessions to keep ready our players for upcoming sports events keeping in view the COVID situations. After getting the instructions from the health department, the file would be sent to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for the approval to initiate individual training for the players.
Rana Sodhi said that we are getting positive response from young sportspersons and their parents to attend the practice sessions in individual sports gauging the low count of COVID-19 cases. If the decline in COVID-19 cases remains to be continued, we further revisit our decision to start training for team events reviewing the safety measures for the players, he added.