New Delhi, May 12: Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju today said they “cannot rush into a decision” on resuming outdoor training for track and field stars and risk their health amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla.
Taking stock of the situation during a virtual meeting, Rijiju interacted with top track and field athletes, including javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and sprinter Hima Das.
The meeting was also attended by top officials 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 said.
The meeting lasted more than two hours
On Monday, Rijiju had said training of elite athletes will resume after the lockdown to contain the pandemic is lifted, urging sportspersons and stakeholders to be patient. He also added that health of the athletes is his top priority.
During the virtual interaction, the athletes once again requested the minister to allow them to resume training outdoors, but 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 minister to allow them outdoor training in small batches and in different times while following social distancing norms of the government. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra had also taken up the matter with the higher authorities in the government.
The national camps at SAI centres have been shut since mid-March to contain the virus, which has infected over 65,000 people and caused more than 2,000 deaths in India. (PTI)
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