At a time when the entire world is battling the highly contagious virus and everything around the world has come to a halt, Kiren Rijiju, the Indian Minister for Sports, has come forward to assure sportsperson and stakeholders.
In a tweet, Mr. Kiren Rijiju assured that top athletes of the country will start their training and preparation for the upcoming endeavors once the nationwide lockdown enforced by COVID-19 is lifted.
We will resume everything in a phased manner: Kiren Rijiju
“Once the lockdown is lifted, we will resume the training of our elite athletes followed by other SAI Training Centres in a phased manner. I appeal sportsperson and all stakeholders not to rush because health and safety is our top priority presently,” Rijiju tweeted.
Notably, the sports ministry had decided to shut all national camps at Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centres in mid march when the entire country has been imposed by a nationwide lockdown. He also added in his statement that everything will start on a phased manner as the COVID-19 cases are still increasing.
“I thought of starting training of athletes at SAI centres from May 3 (the earlier stated end for the lockdown). Now we will have to do that in a phased manner by the end of this month.”
No relaxation under the Disaster Management Act
According to a report published in PTI, tarck and field athletes have been requesting the ministry to allow them to train within the campuses of the SAI centres they are based at. But, Rijiju said that sports doesn’t fall under essential service and so can’t get the relaxations.
“Sports events don’t get any relaxations under Disaster Management Act. We don’t fall under the category of essential services,” Kiren Rijiju had stated.
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