Hyderabad: "The coronavirus has shattered the Olympic dream of para-badminton players," said Anand Kumar, a national badminton player.
Coronavirus forced lockdown has left athletes to suffer a huge loss. That to the amount of loss, trouble is quite recognisable to para-athletes. The Olympics have now been postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. It created a new apprehension among athletes who dreamed of playing in the Olympics.
"There is a lot more confusion about how we should prepare for the Olympics. Since there was a lockdown for the last two months the athletes could not practice," he added.
Body fitness is more important for athletes. An ordinary citizen can maintain fitness at home, which is not a problem but for sportsmen, light exercises don't work.
Therefore, the government must give special concessions to players who are playing international sports.
Para-badminton player Anand Kumar has appealed to the association to allow the players to make their problem known to the government.
The government must come up with a set of rules that will make the life of para-athletes better.
Para athletes have won India several international medals. But the Karnataka government has not built any indoor stadium for para-badminton players to practice in the state.
