New Delhi, India, July 21, 2020: India’s Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has confirmed that national training camps for Olympic-bound athletes will go ahead despite the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
In an interview with The Times of India, Rijiju confirmed that athletes aiming to take part at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics would not be put at a disadvantage by delaying their training.
“We are passing through an extraordinary situation due to the pandemic and, therefore, the government’s approach to commencement of training for our Olympic-bound athletes would be to tread with caution, keeping their health and safety in mind. However, we cannot put them at a disadvantage by delaying their training,” Rijiju stressed.
“Camps will have to be held while making a thorough appraisal. Decisions will be made on a case-to-case basis.”
Rijiju revealed that boxers who are in camp in Patiala would have to go through an extended quarantine, while the shooting centre has been opened and Olympic-bound shooters are free to practice.
“I have personally interacted with athletes and coaches of hockey, athletics and weightlifting at Patiala and Bengaluru. They were happy with the steps taken by the Sports Authority of India to maintain a sanitised atmosphere in the camps. The comfort and feedback of the athletes are paramount to us,” Rijiju added.
A total of 74 athletes – 42 men and 32 women – in seven sports have won a quota place for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, now re-scheduled for July 2021.