UT Admin may allow fitness training in category B & C sports at its complexes

“It has been a month since we allowed training in category A sports like athletics, badminton, lawn tennis, table tennis and weightlifting at our sports complexes apart from four other sports, namely golf, shooting, fencing and cycling at other academies. We have made the guidelines and SOP for category B and category C sports and sent it to secretary sports. Once we get the approval, only fitness training in disciplines like hockey, football, basketball, volleyball apart from contact sports like judo, taekwondo, boxing will be allowed. Like training in category A, social distancing norms will be followed and coaches will monitor the trainees apart from the District Sports Officers submitting weekly report,” Saini said.

While the Chandigarh sports department has allowed recreational members in three sports, namely lawn tennis, table tennis and badminton, to play at its sports complexes, Saini said that the sports academies like Sector 42 Chandigarh Hockey Academy and Sector 42 Chandigarh Football Academy will remain closed.

Talking about recent reports about Chandigarh Sports Department coming up with a new sports policy, Saini said the new sports policy will take some time to be drafted and implemented. “We are sure about not opening the residential sports academies till further orders.

About reports about Chandigarh Sports Policy, we are still working on the sports policy and once it is drafted, it will be sent for approval and will be put in place. The new policy will consider all the grievances and issues which need to be addressed.

It was delayed due to the pandemic and now that we have started the offices, we are working on the new policy. The new sports policy will promote inclusiveness of all in the sports without any discrimination,” Saini added.

Saini was also part of the Olympic Day celebrations at Sector 7 Sports Complex and sector 42 sports complex. While Chandigarh Olympic Association celebrated the occasion at Sector 7, Chandigarh Hockey Association celebrated the occasion at Sector 42. Hockey Chandigarh gave away the prizes to the winners of online training competitions and online technical competitions.

“Hockey remains an important part in Indian sporting history and Olympic history. Olympic day remains a special day for all the hockey lovers and today’s celebration was done with less than 30 officials and players. A two-minute silence was also observed in the memory of triple-Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Senior,” said Anil Vohra, secretary, Hockey Chandigarh.