‘Resuming activities adhering to norms’
| Date :05-Aug-2020 |
By Anupam Soni ;
FEW sports associations will resume their activities from Wednesday as Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to give more relaxation to outdoor sports activities in the phase-wise opening of lockdown through its ‘Mission Begin Again’ campaign. Only outdoor non-team sports like golf, outdoor firing range, outdoor gymnastics, tennis, outdoor badminton and malkhambh have been permitted in the first round. While there has been confusion over badminton (as it is an indoor sport and only amateurs play in open space) and with lesser people involved in golf and shooting, only those related to tennis, yoga and gymnastics are upbeat about resumption of sports.
“We are starting tennis activities at our Bajiprabhu Nagar Tennis Academy in two sessions from Wednesday. We have given time slots to every player so that there is no crowding on the courts,” informed Vikram Naidu, Joint Secretary, Nagpur District Hard Court Tennis Association while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on Tuesday. “We will be strictly following the guidelines laid down by Maharashtra State lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Nagpur District Hard Court Tennis Association (NDHTA). “There will be sanitisers placed at convenient places. We have also procured a sanitising machine. The entire area will be sanitised before and after both the sessions,” he added.
Naidu also raised a valid point about cleanliness in the nearby areas. “Adjoining the tennis academy are Bajiprabhu garden where the corporation has come up with green gym but due to lockdown the grass there has grown tall and there is every possibility of snakes being found there. On other side of the court, in the open area there is a lot of Congress grass and one can find pigs there. I would like to request the authorities to take up the issue with utmost urgency,” Naidu said. Anil Mohagaonkar, Secretary of Unity Sports Association, that is based in Bapunagar, also has plans to restart yoga sessions.
“Those who are doing it for fitness can do it at home but for those sportsperson who take part in competitions, the sessions have to be conduced under supervision. I have been conducting those since about last one month or so on an open terrace of a building in Ramna Maruti area following all the safety norms. We are maintaining social distancing and only 15 participants are honing their skills under my guidance. To have the players ready for big tournaments they must be in top shape, this was my only concern,” said Mohagaonkar.
The regular venue of practise, Bapunagar garden, is still closed for public. “For general public, I take yoga classes in Bapunagar garden but since it is closed by the authorities we have left with no choice. Once the garden is opened, we can start yoga sessions there too,” he added. Pankaj Kunde, who is among noted gymnastic coaches in the city and is also secretary of Gymnastic Association of Nagpur will be starting activities soon.
“I train gymnastic aspirants at Kamgar Kalyan Kendra and Gaikwad-Patil International School. But since Kamgar Kendra has received nothing form the appropriate authorities to start the centre, I cannot start gymnastics there. But I would be conducting sessions on Gaikwad-Patil premise from coming Monday,” Kunde said. Sports activities were stopped since March when the nation went into complete lockdown. Earlier, only outdoor activities including cycling and walking were permitted with social distancing and other guidelines.