The Summer Olympic Games 2020 would have been the culmination of four years of hard work, pain and sacrifices of elite athletes, striving for glory and to be a nation’s pride.
However, fate had other plans. The International Olympic Committee’s decision to postpone the Tokyo Games to 2021 due to the global spread of COVID-19 is just prolonging the agony of these athletes who will have to wait another year to take their shot at eternal glory.
Initially restricted to their homes or the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centres due to the nationwide lockdown, top Indian athletes are now gradually resuming training outdoors. It’s about gently getting back into the groove.
THE WEEK caught up with some of the top Indian Olympic and Paralympic athletes to know how they have made use of this time as they get back into training.
ANJUM MOUDGIL, Shooting–10m Air Rifle, 50m Rifle 3 Positions
The last couple of months have been really different from what we have been doing for the past few years. If the Olympics would have taken place as per schedule, August 9 would have been the last day of the competition, and it would have also been my first experience at an Olympics. Since we have been indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been training at home. It’s all about preparing each day to get better in every way possible.
I am enjoying this experience of staying at home for so many months altogether and exploring other avenues on the creative side. I have been rediscovering old hobbies and trying my hand at cooking and dancing. I have been painting a lot. I put up some of my art work for auction to collect money for daily wage workers and support staff in the sports community who have been hit hard due to the pandemic. I even sold some hand-painted diaries to raise money for an NGO involved in helping villages affected by the lockdown. My degree in psychology has been helpful as well and I have been holding a few counselling sessions for friends who are also into shooting.
VINESH PHOGAT, Wrestling–53kg
No one thought this virus would be around for so long, but it is still here. When the postponement of the Olympics was first announced, it felt odd. But as athletes, we are used to adapting to all conditions and challenges. The training continues regardless of any competition or results. It’s not like I would have announced my retirement after the Tokyo Olympics; the training and daily process continue regardless of whether there is a competition taking place or not.
I do miss the competitions, but I also cannot think so much or so far ahead. All I focus on is my daily process and how I can remain fit. The fitness level must be maintained regardless of when the next competition will be. For that, I have been training at home. Though a wrestling mat is not at my disposal, I have some equipment at home to train with. I would say this is a new experience; there is fun in this, too. I have not stayed at home for so long ever before so I am trying to make the most of it.
SANDEEP CHAUDHARY, para athlete, Javelin Throw
In the initial phase of the lockdown and with news of the Olympics postponement, everything felt negative because I had been preparing hard and was ready for the Games. Eventually, I tried looking at things more positively. I told myself that there is more time to prepare, and the body has enough time to recover. I started training with renewed vigour. Although the training is still light and not high intensity, the positive attitude has worked.
During the lockdown, it was irritating and frustrating to be restricted to one room. As an athlete, one is not used to doing so. I would play a few games in the room, do a mild workout, watch videos etc. It has been almost two weeks since I resumed training again outdoors, but I am focussing more on fitness. I have not started practicing throws yet. It felt good; more so, mentally. I am training and staying at the Nehru Stadium. I don’t think it will be difficult to regain peak form and fitness. The coaches will plan accordingly.
SATHIYAN G., Table Tennis
The Olympics would have been an amazing event. All the preparations were for this. It (Olympics postponement) was heart-breaking. I was so close to qualifying for it before the pandemic struck. But it happened for the better. I am improving every year; all things point to the fact that in 2021, I will be a better player. So I am taking it positively. I am focussed on practising for now and when the Games come, we will go in match-preparation mode. It’s good that the Games has been postponed and not cancelled—that would have been worse. I hope I can make it a memorable debut at the Olympics in 2021.
The past four months have been hard. I have never ever experienced this—being locked up inside, not being able to travel or train. This was crazy and so unexpected. Everything changed; all my plans went for a toss, things went online, training regimes changed as did training methods. But sportspersons are tough, we are always ready to adapt to changes as we travel so much. I could spend time with my family which is a luxury. I was in a better frame of mind, spending time with my mom and having home-cooked food. I was training with a robot, so I was not completely out of sorts. I could play a little bit and stay in touch with the game. A lot of hand-eye coordination suffered due to the space restrictions. But the improvement has been immense. I expect to be match ready soon. I am calm and not worried about things I cannot control.
P.V. SINDHU, Badminton
Four years and all that preparation later, when the pandemic struck and the Olympics was postponed, I was upset, but I thought it is more important to be safe. I took it in a positive way. I have to keep working hard for another year. I was fine mentally; I spent time with my family, stayed home and played with my nephew. I never got time to do these things before. I kept myself busy by painting, learning new things like cooking. I trained at home. We even had zoom calls, talking to our trainers, physios and coaches.
I am sure getting back into peak form will be a challenge. It depends on individuals—some people try to peak right before the Olympics, it can happen two months before that. That shouldn’t be hard and tough. I miss the competition and going to tournaments. But right now, we just have to focus on maintaining ourselves, learn new skills. I am happy being back on court but we still have to be careful.
MC MARY KOM, Boxing
Given the situation, the Olympics being postponed is a good thing. Saving lives is more important. I really appreciate those who made this decision to postpone the event and value life over anything else. All else is secondary.
I have been training at home. I want to do more, get fitter, improve my skills, but I am not able to do so because I don’t have all the equipment; there are very few at home. And I cannot spar. However, it is also important to take all safety precautions. The camp has resumed at NIS Patiala, but I feel it’s not the right time to go. It’s still early. I will join the camp when I am comfortable to do so. Even in camp, there is no sparring and we cannot do high intensity training.
I am confident that despite the postponement of the Olympics, I will be able to do well. I have the experience, it will not take long for me to achieve peak fitness and form.
Even though my kids are around, I am totally focussed on my training, they don’t disturb me. They have their own activities to do—football, badminton, skating. I have even encouraged them to try boxing besides other sports, and they like it. This is the longest time the children have seen their mummy at home. They really have a lot of energy, especially the boys. They won’t sleep. They keep playing or watching TV. It can get tiring. But I have enjoyed this time. I cook different dishes for them—pasta, poori chole—so this is an experience. Do I miss competitions? Not really. If they happen I am happy, if they don’t, I’m still happy. I have been away from my kids for so long, this is the right time to be with them. After I retire, may be this is what I will be doing. So it’s good in a way!