Reigning Asian Games gold-medallist Rahi Sarnobat, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digivijay Singh Deo, spoke about life in lockdown, postponement and future of Tokyo Olympics, importance of domestic competitions post-lockdown, coordination between Indian shooters and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Rahi, you in particular train extremely religiously so how difficult has it been for you?

Rahi Sarnobat: Yes it has been extremely difficult. I have not been to the shooting range since the lockdown started, but I realise that the situation is out of my control. We as athletes have to adapt and be creative so that we can train in some form. I have come up with new exercises and drills to keep in touch with my skills.

DSD: You know what a period without your gun is like having overcome a serious injury a few years ago. Has that experience helped you sail through this?

Rahi Sarnobat: Absolutely. When I was out of action due to my injury, I had to deal with the problem alone. While I was recovering, my fellow shooters were winning medals at major events, so I was naturally insecure about my place in the team and thought I would be replaced. So as a result, mentally it is easier for me to deal with this coronavirus crisis because all of us are in it together. I learnt so much from the time when I was injured, I was out for an entire year and I wasn't even able to touch my weapon, let alone train. Whereas during this crisis, I am able to train in some form, so for me personally this is definitely a better situation.

DSD: Do you consider yourself fortunate to have made a last-minute change in your plans to head home to Kolhapur from Pune just before the lockdown kicked in.

Rahi Sarnobat: Initially I didn't want to come to Kolhapur. I got done with a tournament in Delhi on the march 17 and then I was supposed to go to Pune for a camp scheduled to begin on April 1. So I thought I would travel to Pune from Delhi and stay there till the camp begins, but my brother insisted that I come to Kolhapur and assess the situation from here. Fortunately for me, I listened to him and I have been here with my family since the lockdown began.

DSD: Your training base in Pune, the Balewadi Sports Complex is now a full-fledged quarantine facility, so clearly heading back there is not possible at the moment.

Rahi Sarnobat: In a way, I feel very proud that the complex I train in, is contributing significantly to the fight against the coronavirus. However, I certainly miss training in that complex and I don't think I will get the opportunity to train there this year. Pune is one of the worst-hit cities in India and the city desperately needs facilities where people can be quarantined or treated.

<img alt="RAHI: WILL UNDERSTAND IF THE OLYMPICS ARE NOT HELD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5cf63c94-30e9-48bc-8e37-301fd3ef746b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_18I9OY.jpg" />

DSD: The thing about the Indian sportsperson though is that they always find a way past a crisis, you haven't waited for sports facilities to open and you are trying to get the range in your city of Kolhapur operational.

Rahi Sarnobat: Fortunately the municipal authorities and sports authorities have been extremely cooperative in this matter. We are trying to get the shooting range here up and running, but we realise that a lot of work has to be put in by the authorities. It is definitely a challenge to open up a sports facility during the coronavirus crisis, but I am happy to say that the authorities are doing their utmost to ensure that athletes get back to training. It is crucial for athletes like me, who have qualified for the Olympics, to return to outdoor training. The authorities are giving us positive updates regarding the reopening of the facility on a daily basis, so hopefully, I will be back out there soon.

DSD: Did you think of heading into a quarantine camp like is being suggested by the Indian Olympic Association, you can drive to Bengaluru where the SAI campus is already under lockdown. there are hostel facilities and the men's and women's hockey teams are there. Does that make sense?

Rahi Sarnobat: I think right now I am comfortable here in Kolhapur as the shooting range is going to reopen very soon. I have all the shooting equipment available, including guns and ammunition. Also, no one knows when the situation is going to improve considerably, so these are very uncertain times. If a camp is organised, then how long will it go on for? So I think it is better for athletes to remain in a secure environment where they will be able to sustain themselves for a long period of time. In my opinion, travelling isn't safe at the moment, but in the future when the situation improves, maybe I will consider going to such a camp. Right now I am comfortable in Kolhapur.

DSD: I was speaking to Sebastian Coe last week and he said that the sportsperson is extremely resilient. After winning the Asian games gold and then the Olympic quota at the Munich world cup you were set for the Olympics. Now how do you deal with this pause?

Rahi Sarnobat: It will definitely affect our preparation and planning in the lead up to the Olympics. Now, we have to go back to the drawing board for our plan, but even to come up with a plan, we need a shooting calendar. We have no idea when competitions will return at the moment, so all we can do is wait. I think athletes should set themselves short-term goals for the next couple of weeks or a month. They can work on aspects of their game which they otherwise wouldn't get a chance to work on because of the hectic schedule. The one positive that we can draw from the postponement is that the games are 14 months away, so we have enough time to rest and return to outdoor training to get back into the groove.

DSD: Momentum is crucial in sport, you were building up well to Tokyo 2020, how does one get that rhythm back, especially in a tough event like yours where there are two distinct aspects, precision and duelling...

Rahi Sarnobat: Undoubtedly momentum is very important in sport. I don't think the Olympics will be the only event that will take place next year. There will definitely be events leading up to the games which will allow us to get our rhythm back. We have to take those tournaments extremely seriously and try to get our momentum back. I believe domestic competitions will be held by the end of the year and international competitions will resume in the early part of next year, so that should give us enough time to properly prepare for the Tokyo Olympics.

<img alt="RAHI: WILL UNDERSTAND IF THE OLYMPICS ARE NOT HELD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="35d01f47-aba4-44dc-afed-1cb1689c9623" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_18I9N8.jpg" />

DSD: Do you think it is essential to hold domestic competitions from September or October so that once the international calendar resumes, our shooters are in the competitive zone at least.

Rahi Sarnobat: Domestic competitions should resume very soon, but I think only small-scale events will be possible. Events with more than 50 shooters will be very difficult to organise, so holding a full-fledged national championship is out of the question. Maybe, a tournament can be organised for the top 10 national shooters of every event. In terms of online shooting, it is only possible for 10-metre events, for the 25m, 50m and shotgun events, it is necessary to be outdoors or at the shooting range. Even a small-scale competition will be extremely helpful for the shooters because that is what keeps us motivated. It will give us a much-needed push.

DSD: As a top shooter, who is going for a medal at the Olympics and needs to stay in the competitive zone, do we have the bench strength to hold competitions that in some way match up to the international level events.

Rahi Sarnobat: Five or ten years ago, the scenario was different, when India had only 1-2 shooters who were elite international athletes. However, now we are a global shooting superpower, there are at least 4 shooters in each category who have excelled at the international level in the last few years. Having said that, we cannot hold tournaments with just these 4-5 shooters, we need at least 8 participants in a competition for it to have the feel of an international event. Also, I feel that the nature of competition is not very important after such a prolonged break, any sort of competition will be helpful for the shooters. Something is better than nothing.

DSD: There is a huge question mark over the Olympics even now despite the postponement Rahi. Does that bother you as someone who was heading in as a medal contender?

Rahi Sarnobat: I am trying to be as positive as I can. No athlete prepares for just one Olympic games in their careers, every sportsperson aims to excel in all events they participate in. If these games do not happen, then I will start preparing for the 2024 Games. However, for some athletes, who are entering the twilight of their careers, a year's postponement can make a world of a difference. Even in physical sports, like athletics, the postponement could be very difficult to deal with. We as shooters are in a way lucky that ours is not a very physical sport.

The IOC has given us a date and we have to continue preparing for the Tokyo Olympics with that date in mind unless an official announcement is made regarding the cancellation of the event, that is the only option we have. This year as well, till the official announcement was made regarding the postponement, I was training for the July 2020 Olympics. There was a lot of speculation for more than a month about the games, but that didn't stop me from training. It is only when the official announcement was made that I stopped my training for the July 2020 games. So, I will follow the same principle for the 2021 games. Even if the Olympics are cancelled, then the training that I put in will not be worthless, it will definitely help me in future competitions.

DSD: Shooting is a very fickle sport and a lot of it depends on that day. Do you see this period of uncertainty extending into the shooting calendar that if and when the season resume there are going to be some very skewed results?

Rahi Sarnobat: Yes that might be a possibility. Different countries are at varying stages of dealing with the pandemic, so that means that in terms of training, it is not a level playing field for all athletes in the world at the moment. That might change in a few months and we might see shooters back at ranges. However, there is still more than a year to go for the games and I do believe that shooters will get enough time to prepare. We might see the overall shooting scores decrease slightly, but I don't think there will be a completely new set of medalists at the Tokyo Games. We won't see a shooter come out of anywhere and win a medal. The world's top shooters will still be competing for that coveted prize.

<img alt="RAHI: WILL UNDERSTAND IF THE OLYMPICS ARE NOT HELD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f175b6de-644b-4d2b-ac8d-5dc4a69f5ed5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1832457.jpg" />

DSD: Have you sort of adjusted to the fact that your coach may not be able to be with you for a substantial portion of the months leading up to the Olympics from now and what will be the alternative?

Rahi Sarnobat: The contract that I had with my personal coach, Munkhbayar Dorksuren, was only till July 2020. I am right now in two minds about renewing my contract, but frankly, I don't think it is feasible for me to keep a personal coach. I think am ready to be guided by the team coaches. My former personal coach, Munkhbayar Dorksuren, was a great mentor for me over the past few years and she has made me an independent shooter, so that has put me in a good position to go forward. Also, I have now been shooting for over 15 years and have gained a lot of experience, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem for me to be without a coach. I think I am capable enough to adapt and I will do my best to remain at the top level.

DSD: The thing with Indian shooting is that even though we have 15 Olympic qualified shooters heading to Tokyo, there is very little coordination between most shooters as it is largely an individual sport, but considering the present situation would it be better for everyone to keep exchanging notes through this period.

Rahi Sarnobat: I think all 15 of us are keeping in touch in some form. The situation was different a few years ago, when there wasn't as much communication between shooters, that is not the case now. We have spent a lot of time with each other and we do exchange notes from time to time. The younger generation of shooters are very friendly, they are always willing to learn and ask a lot of questions. They are hungry, enthusiastic, energetic and curious. That's a very positive sign for the team. I like to spend time with them because it reminds me of my youth and it re-energises me. The NRAI made it a point to create a team atmosphere among Indian shooters and I must say that is working. There is a great camaraderie among all of us, which maybe wasn't there in the Indian team a few years back.

DSD: What is your advice to your fellow shooters, many of whom are pretty young and were headed to their first Olympics?

Rahi Sarnobat: Frankly speaking, I feel like asking them for advice sometimes as they are such skilled shooters. I don't even know if there is anything I can tell them which will improve their game, such is their level. The scenario when I was starting out my career about ten years back, was very different from what it is now. The young shooters were very excited for the 2020 Tokyo Games, ready to win multiple medals and I must say they were prepared to do so. They were training superbly and everything was in place for them to excel. The postponement has inconvenienced us all, but the games will hopefully still go ahead. My advice to them would be to stay patient. If they are able to do so, I have no doubt in my mind that they will achieve their goals.

Reigning Asian Games gold-medallist Rahi Sarnobat, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digivijay Singh Deo, spoke about life in lockdown, postponement and future of Tokyo Olympics, importance of domestic competitions post-lockdown, coordination between Indian shooters and much more.

Reigning Asian Games gold-medallist Rahi Sarnobat, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digivijay Singh Deo, spoke about life in lockdown, postponement and future of Tokyo Olympics, importance of domestic competitions post-lockdown, coordination between Indian shooters and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Rahi, you in particular train extremely religiously so how difficult has it been for you? Rahi Sarnobat: Yes it has been extremely difficult. I have not been to the shooting range since the lockdown started, but I realise that the situation is out of my control. We as athletes have to adapt and be creative so that we can train in some form. I have come up with new exercises and drills to keep in touch with my skills. DSD: You know what a period without your gun is like having overcome a serious injury a few years ago. Has that experience helped you sail through this? Rahi Sarnobat: Absolutely. When I was out of action due to my injury, I had to deal with the problem alone. While I was recovering, my fellow shooters were winning medals at major events, so I was naturally insecure about my place in the team and thought I would be replaced. So as a result, mentally it is easier for me to deal with this coronavirus crisis because all of us are in it together. I learnt so much from the time when I was injured, I was out for an entire year and I wasn't even able to touch my weapon, let alone train. Whereas during this crisis, I am able to train in some form, so for me personally this is definitely a better situation. DSD: Do you consider yourself fortunate to have made a last-minute change in your plans to head home to Kolhapur from Pune just before the lockdown kicked in. Rahi Sarnobat: Initially I didn't want to come to Kolhapur. I got done with a tournament in Delhi on the march 17 and then I was supposed to go to Pune for a camp scheduled to begin on April 1. So I thought I would travel to Pune from Delhi and stay there till the camp begins, but my brother insisted that I come to Kolhapur and assess the situation from here. Fortunately for me, I listened to him and I have been here with my family since the lockdown began. DSD: Your training base in Pune, the Balewadi Sports Complex is now a full-fledged quarantine facility, so clearly heading back there is not possible at the moment. Rahi Sarnobat: In a way, I feel very proud that the complex I train in, is contributing significantly to the fight against the coronavirus. However, I certainly miss training in that complex and I don't think I will get the opportunity to train there this year. Pune is one of the worst-hit cities in India and the city desperately needs facilities where people can be quarantined or treated. DSD: The thing about the Indian sportsperson though is that they always find a way past a crisis, you haven't waited for sports facilities to open and you are trying to get the range in your city of Kolhapur operational. Rahi Sarnobat: Fortunately the municipal authorities and sports authorities have been extremely cooperative in this matter. We are trying to get the shooting range here up and running, but we realise that a lot of work has to be put in by the authorities. It is definitely a challenge to open up a sports facility during the coronavirus crisis, but I am happy to say that the authorities are doing their utmost to ensure that athletes get back to training. It is crucial for athletes like me, who have qualified for the Olympics, to return to outdoor training. The authorities are giving us positive updates regarding the reopening of the facility on a daily basis, so hopefully, I will be back out there soon. DSD: Did you think of heading into a quarantine camp like is being suggested by the Indian Olympic Association, you can drive to Bengaluru where the SAI campus is already under lockdown. there are hostel facilities and the men's and women's hockey teams are there. Does that make sense? Rahi Sarnobat: I think right now I am comfortable here in Kolhapur as the shooting range is going to reopen very soon. I have all the shooting equipment available, including guns and ammunition. Also, no one knows when the situation is going to improve considerably, so these are very uncertain times. If a camp is organised, then how long will it go on for? So I think it is better for athletes to remain in a secure environment where they will be able to sustain themselves for a long period of time. In my opinion, travelling isn't safe at the moment, but in the future when the situation improves, maybe I will consider going to such a camp. Right now I am comfortable in Kolhapur. DSD: I was speaking to Sebastian Coe last week and he said that the sportsperson is extremely resilient. After winning the Asian games gold and then the Olympic quota at the Munich world cup you were set for the Olympics. Now how do you deal with this pause? Rahi Sarnobat: It will definitely affect our preparation and planning in the lead up to the Olympics. Now, we have to go back to the drawing board for our plan, but even to come up with a plan, we need a shooting calendar. We have no idea when competitions will return at the moment, so all we can do is wait. I think athletes should set themselves short-term goals for the next couple of weeks or a month. They can work on aspects of their game which they otherwise wouldn't get a chance to work on because of the hectic schedule. The one positive that we can draw from the postponement is that the games are 14 months away, so we have enough time to rest and return to outdoor training to get back into the groove. DSD: Momentum is crucial in sport, you were building up well to Tokyo 2020, how does one get that rhythm back, especially in a tough event like yours where there are two distinct aspects, precision and duelling... Rahi Sarnobat: Undoubtedly momentum is very important in sport. I don't think the Olympics will be the only event that will take place next year. There will definitely be events leading up to the games which will allow us to get our rhythm back. We have to take those tournaments extremely seriously and try to get our momentum back. I believe domestic competitions will be held by the end of the year and international competitions will resume in the early part of next year, so that should give us enough time to properly prepare for the Tokyo Olympics. DSD: Do you think it is essential to hold domestic competitions from September or October so that once the international calendar resumes, our shooters are in the competitive zone at least. Rahi Sarnobat: Domestic competitions should resume very soon, but I think only small-scale events will be possible. Events with more than 50 shooters will be very difficult to organise, so holding a full-fledged national championship is out of the question. Maybe, a tournament can be organised for the top 10 national shooters of every event. In terms of online shooting, it is only possible for 10-metre events, for the 25m, 50m and shotgun events, it is necessary to be outdoors or at the shooting range. Even a small-scale competition will be extremely helpful for the shooters because that is what keeps us motivated. It will give us a much-needed push. DSD: As a top shooter, who is going for a medal at the Olympics and needs to stay in the competitive zone, do we have the bench strength to hold competitions that in some way match up to the international level events. Rahi Sarnobat: Five or ten years ago, the scenario was different, when India had only 1-2 shooters who were elite international athletes. However, now we are a global shooting superpower, there are at least 4 shooters in each category who have excelled at the international level in the last few years. Having said that, we cannot hold tournaments with just these 4-5 shooters, we need at least 8 participants in a competition for it to have the feel of an international event. Also, I feel that the nature of competition is not very important after such a prolonged break, any sort of competition will be helpful for the shooters. Something is better than nothing. DSD: There is a huge question mark over the Olympics even now despite the postponement Rahi. Does that bother you as someone who was heading in as a medal contender? Rahi Sarnobat: I am trying to be as positive as I can. No athlete prepares for just one Olympic games in their careers, every sportsperson aims to excel in all events they participate in. If these games do not happen, then I will start preparing for the 2024 Games. However, for some athletes, who are entering the twilight of their careers, a year's postponement can make a world of a difference. Even in physical sports, like athletics, the postponement could be very difficult to deal with. We as shooters are in a way lucky that ours is not a very physical sport. The IOC has given us a date and we have to continue preparing for the Tokyo Olympics with that date in mind unless an official announcement is made regarding the cancellation of the event, that is the only option we have. This year as well, till the official announcement was made regarding the postponement, I was training for the July 2020 Olympics. There was a lot of speculation for more than a month about the games, but that didn't stop me from training. It is only when the official announcement was made that I stopped my training for the July 2020 games. So, I will follow the same principle for the 2021 games. Even if the Olympics are cancelled, then the training that I put in will not be worthless, it will definitely help me in future competitions. DSD: Shooting is a very fickle sport and a lot of it depends on that day. Do you see this period of uncertainty extending into the shooting calendar that if and when the season resume there are going to be some very skewed results? Rahi Sarnobat: Yes that might be a possibility. Different countries are at varying stages of dealing with the pandemic, so that means that in terms of training, it is not a level playing field for all athletes in the world at the moment. That might change in a few months and we might see shooters back at ranges. However, there is still more than a year to go for the games and I do believe that shooters will get enough time to prepare. We might see the overall shooting scores decrease slightly, but I don't think there will be a completely new set of medalists at the Tokyo Games. We won't see a shooter come out of anywhere and win a medal. The world's top shooters will still be competing for that coveted prize. DSD: Have you sort of adjusted to the fact that your coach may not be able to be with you for a substantial portion of the months leading up to the Olympics from now and what will be the alternative? Rahi Sarnobat: The contract that I had with my personal coach, Munkhbayar Dorksuren, was only till July 2020. I am right now in two minds about renewing my contract, but frankly, I don't think it is feasible for me to keep a personal coach. I think am ready to be guided by the team coaches. My former personal coach, Munkhbayar Dorksuren, was a great mentor for me over the past few years and she has made me an independent shooter, so that has put me in a good position to go forward. Also, I have now been shooting for over 15 years and have gained a lot of experience, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem for me to be without a coach. I think I am capable enough to adapt and I will do my best to remain at the top level. DSD: The thing with Indian shooting is that even though we have 15 Olympic qualified shooters heading to Tokyo, there is very little coordination between most shooters as it is largely an individual sport, but considering the present situation would it be better for everyone to keep exchanging notes through this period. Rahi Sarnobat: I think all 15 of us are keeping in touch in some form. The situation was different a few years ago, when there wasn't as much communication between shooters, that is not the case now. We have spent a lot of time with each other and we do exchange notes from time to time. The younger generation of shooters are very friendly, they are always willing to learn and ask a lot of questions. They are hungry, enthusiastic, energetic and curious. That's a very positive sign for the team. I like to spend time with them because it reminds me of my youth and it re-energises me. The NRAI made it a point to create a team atmosphere among Indian shooters and I must say that is working. There is a great camaraderie among all of us, which maybe wasn't there in the Indian team a few years back. DSD: What is your advice to your fellow shooters, many of whom are pretty young and were headed to their first Olympics? Rahi Sarnobat: Frankly speaking, I feel like asking them for advice sometimes as they are such skilled shooters. I don't even know if there is anything I can tell them which will improve their game, such is their level. The scenario when I was starting out my career about ten years back, was very different from what it is now. The young shooters were very excited for the 2020 Tokyo Games, ready to win multiple medals and I must say they were prepared to do so. They were training superbly and everything was in place for them to excel. The postponement has inconvenienced us all, but the games will hopefully still go ahead. My advice to them would be to stay patient. If they are able to do so, I have no doubt in my mind that they will achieve their goals.

Rahi: Will understand if the Olympics are not held

Global athletics competitions in 2020 will look very different from what we have been used to so far, according to Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of the governing body of World Athletics.

In an exclusive conversation with WION, two-time Olympic champion Lord Coe said that the safety of athletes is the most important guiding principle that World Athletics will follow as it plots a return to action in the COVID-19 era.

A new schedule for the Diamond League season was announced earlier this week with the aim to begin in Monaco in August and continue till October.

"Meeting Directors will have to take their own decisions about how to get athletes to competition in a safe and secure manner that doesn't risk infection", said Lord Coe.

"Each event will have to decide on a format for competition with these safety considerations two months in advance. Everybody is waiting to return to competition and organisers will have to be as creative and ingenious as possible in the current circumstances", he added.

Even though fans are unlikely to be allowed inside stadiums to witness live sport anytime soon, Lord Coe stressed that it was still important to return to competition for the sake of the athletes.

"We have to be guided by what governments, the WHO and local authorities are telling us, but we also have to make our own decisions and make sensible compromises. There may be a moment when a sport decides that it is ready to stage events even if it is not always with the approval of those authorities. We will be respectful, but we have to make decisions in the best interest of our sport and our athletes".

World Athletics was also one of the bodies that put pressure on the International Olympic Committee to postpone this summer's Tokyo Games in March. The IOC was criticised for its late response, but Lord Coe said that as the former chief of the London 2012 Olympics, he was able to appreciate how difficult a decision it was. He also refused to speculate on whether on Tokyo Olympics can be held in 2021 without a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus.

"Speculating about something that is over a year away is unhelpful. We are trying to give the athletes some clarity about the calendar and speculation from scientists and medical experts does not help. I hope that the pandemic will be contained so that we don't have to cancel the Games", he concluded. 
&nbsp;

Global athletics competitions in 2020 will look very different from what we have been used to so far, according to Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of the governing body of World Athletics.

Global athletics competitions in 2020 will look very different from what we have been used to so far, according to Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of the governing body of World Athletics. In an exclusive conversation with WION, two-time Olympic champion Lord Coe said that the safety of athletes is the most important guiding principle that World Athletics will follow as it plots a return to action in the COVID-19 era. A new schedule for the Diamond League season was announced earlier this week with the aim to begin in Monaco in August and continue till October. "Meeting Directors will have to take their own decisions about how to get athletes to competition in a safe and secure manner that doesn't risk infection", said Lord Coe. "Each event will have to decide on a format for competition with these safety considerations two months in advance. Everybody is waiting to return to competition and organisers will have to be as creative and ingenious as possible in the current circumstances", he added. Even though fans are unlikely to be allowed inside stadiums to witness live sport anytime soon, Lord Coe stressed that it was still important to return to competition for the sake of the athletes. "We have to be guided by what governments, the WHO and local authorities are telling us, but we also have to make our own decisions and make sensible compromises. There may be a moment when a sport decides that it is ready to stage events even if it is not always with the approval of those authorities. We will be respectful, but we have to make decisions in the best interest of our sport and our athletes". World Athletics was also one of the bodies that put pressure on the International Olympic Committee to postpone this summer's Tokyo Games in March. The IOC was criticised for its late response, but Lord Coe said that as the former chief of the London 2012 Olympics, he was able to appreciate how difficult a decision it was. He also refused to speculate on whether on Tokyo Olympics can be held in 2021 without a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus. "Speculating about something that is over a year away is unhelpful. We are trying to give the athletes some clarity about the calendar and speculation from scientists and medical experts does not help. I hope that the pandemic will be contained so that we don't have to cancel the Games", he concluded.

Seb Coe: Athletics will look very different in 2020

Two-time Olympic champion and president of World Athletics, Lord Coe, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on the future of athletics post-lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, sport behind closed doors, leadership in the sporting world, challenges for global sporting bodies and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Lord Coe, you have largely spent your life outdoors, so how has life been during this lockdown period?

Lord Sebastian Coe: I think it has been a challenge for all of us, particularly those of us who like working in groups in our offices. But interestingly what comes as a surprise to a lot of people, is that being an athlete, you learn to work remotely for most of your career. The current generation of athletes is working remotely and using technology. Sometimes coaches are not at the training sessions or even the competitions. The coaches might be sitting eight time zones away from the athletes, but they get the opportunity to analyse the performance of athletes only 20 minutes after the competitions end in some cases. So in a funny sort of way, this period reminds me of the time that I used to work remotely as an athlete.

DSD: I must say there probably aren't too many fitter&nbsp;than you as you close in on your 64th birthday. That 2.6 challenge looked pretty tough especially the push-ups.

Lord Sebastian Coe: It was a very good challenge and it was actually created by the organisers of the London marathon. On the day of the London marathon, a lot of money is raised for charity like most big-city races. However, since the London marathon was postponed this year, there was a fear that a lot of charities would miss out. So the challenge that they came up with was to raise money for these charities as a substitute for the London marathon and also inspire people to do various exercises. I did the challenge and was able to raise some money. It was a good exercise in both ways.

DSD: A&nbsp;few days back we got the newly revised Diamond League schedule. As the head of athletics what are the key factors you have to ensure are ticked before the resumption of the sport. There are bound to be travel restrictions and quarantine restrictions till a vaccine is found and it won't be fair on any athlete to miss out.

Lord Sebastian Coe: I think the guiding principle has to be the safety of the athletes. No action will be taken that puts the athletes in harm's way. The very fact that we pushed the International Olympic Committee to make an early decision on the Tokyo Games was because of the safety of the athletes. It was a tough decision on the IOC's part and nobody is criticising them for that. Our guiding principle has always been the safety and comfort of the athlete. We realise that the athletes need to get back to competing, they want that and so do the fans. However, we have to be respectful and we cannot put them in any danger. It's not just about putting the athletes in harm's way, they, in turn, could infect their families and loved ones and we don't want that to happen.

Wherever possible we have created a structure, the diamond league and continental tour will look very different once we resume. There isn't going to be an overall diamond league winner if we are able to get the competition up and running in august, which we hope will be possible. There isn't going to be a Diamond League final in Zurich. We have to ensure that athletes are able to enter competitions in a safe and secure manner, which doesn't increase the risk of spreading the infection. That is a real challenge and each one of the diamond league directors will identify a format for their competitions and list the safety considerations about two months before the events.

<img alt="Lord Sebastian Coe speaks to WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a012aab4-8888-4313-8f72-9ddde3f59b2f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1IZ566.jpg" />

DSD: Is social distancing possible in athletics? Its' not a contact sport but anything above the 400m mark brings close contact into play.

Lord Sebastian Coe: Yes, that is true. Some events are slightly easier to conduct because the athletes run in lanes. Whereas other events like the 1500 metres, which was my event, will be more complicated. Although already I have been sent many inputs for these issues by various federations. The other day the Italian federation gave a suggestion that athletes in certain events could set off at staggered times and their aggregate timing would determine their placings. Everyone wants to get back to competing and all of us will try to be as creative and as ingenious as we can be to hold these competitions. We realise what the situation is at the moment, it isn't going to be possible to get stadiums full of fans. Different countries in the world are at varying stages of dealing with coronavirus pandemic. There are some countries where the increase in the number of cases have reduced, while others are still to hit their peak. My own country, the UK, is still locked down and most athletes do not have access to facilities, just like in India.

DSD: Sport without fans is going to be the new normal for the time being but athletes thrive under the atmospherics so to say. Is that a sacrifice you grudgingly have to make considering how athletics was starting to draw in the crowds again.

Lord Sebastian Coe: I think in the immediate future, we have to accept the fact that competitions are not going to be viewed by large groups of people. The athletes really need to get back to competitions, it is very important for them. &nbsp;Athletes don't just wake up in the morning to train, they train in order to compete at the highest level. So holding competitions without fans seems to be the sensible compromise at this point of time. We have to be guided by the information the various governments, the world health organisation and public health officials are giving us. However, ultimately sport will have to make its own decisions. There may come a time when sporting federations decide to resume action and that may even be without the approval of the authorities. Of course, we have to be respectful to the global health scenario, but ultimately the sporting federations have to make decisions that they think are in the best interest of not just the sport, but also the athletes.

DSD: As administrators and guardians of the sport engaging with fans and keeping them interested will be crucial. Some sports have gone the virtual route but difficult to do that with athletics. You did have the ultimate garden challenge which was quite fun. Is that the way forward to balance the possible lack of fans in the stadium.

Lord Sebastian Coe: I don't think there has been a sport which has done as much as athletics, to engage with the fans during this period. I'm very proud of the work that is been done at the world athletics headquarters, I'm proud of the creative ways in which the athletes are interacting with the fans and I'm also proud of the national bodies who are trying to help us in the digital space. No sport has responded to this crisis as well as athletics. We need to make sure that we utilise every bit of technology that allows us to stay more connected. This weekend I will be joining the African council meeting through video call, next week I will join the European and Oceania council meetings.

I have spoken to athletes, the executive board, my council colleagues and working groups through various digital mediums. This morning I addressed members of our world athletics headquarters.so there is a lot that we can do with technology. I guess smart organisations are absorbing what they are learning as we go along. As a sport, we want to come out of this crisis stronger, fitter and more robust and in a better position to future proof ourselves. At the same time, we want to keep engaging with our fans and bring the sport closer to them. The real challenge that we have is to make sure that our fans feel connected to the athletes and the sport at large. It is all part of the same landscape.

<img alt="Lord Sebastian Coe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2dd729f2-2a63-4703-a1af-01283b4ceb76" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1272648.jpg" />

DSD: What this period has also shown is true leadership or the lack of it in the sporting world. You took the lead in asking the IOC to postpone the Olympics. Ultimately it proved to be the correct decision as sportspersons were not able to train.

Lord Sebastian Coe: The decision on the postponement of the Olympic games was a very complicated one. I am not going to attribute any blame to any organisation. I was the chair of the organising committee at the 2012 London Olympic games and I can only imagine how tough it would have been for us if there was a crisis in 2012 and someone would have told me in March or April that there was a chance the games could get cancelled or postponed. It would have been a very tough ask. You have to figure out what to do with the venues, whether it be the permanent ones or temporary ones.

There are various things that need to be dealt with in terms of sponsorship agreements. We made a judgement that was based on conversations that I was having within the sport, particularly with the athletes. They were effectively saying that they understood why the authorities were trying to keep the Olympics alive, but it is impossible to train during lockdown. The athletes said that it was possible to keep in shape indoors, but that's not the same as working on your stride patterns for a hurdles competition or working on your shotput or javelin throw. Athletes need specific training to get back into competition. That's why we felt that if we didn't make our views very clear, then there was a risk that the athletes were going to be left in this emotional turmoil which was longer than what was humanly kind to them.

DSD: This anxiety, was it similar to the one you faced ahead of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Even today that anxiety exists as many presumptive Olympians are not able to leave their homes and train. Some may not be in the best shape with the Games 14 months away now and may not get that perfect sendoff they wanted.

Lord Sebastian Coe: Yes, that is a valid question but I also want to make the point that we are no different than large chunks of the global population who are anxious about their jobs and their families. People are worried about their children's educational opportunities, job cuts are happening, so it is a very tough landscape and sport is no different. But the athletes have one great attribute, that they are very resilient. Elite athletes don't reach that level without showing extreme resilience and determination. I think they will regroup quickly. What I wanted to do, was give them some clarity that at least took them away from the mental roller-coaster of not knowing when the games will take place.

I'm hoping that by the day, some of them will be able to get back to training at public facilities. Hopefully, they can return to do the type of training that will allow them to compete. We will do everything we possibly can to get them back into competition. I think the majority of the athletes that have been performing well will still be in contention for the Olympics next year, but for others, it is going to be tough. The extra year, for athletes who are at the end of the careers, will be difficult to adjust to. There is always the risk of injury in sport, no matter how old you are. Injuries always prove to be an obstacle in the potential success of an athlete. What we need to do is create some opportunity for competition to give some certainty to the athletes. We may not be able to hold every event that we have identified in the latter part of the year, but at least we will do everything we possibly can for the athletes to help them compete.

DSD: The big question Lord Coe is, will the games happen?&nbsp;Japan has made it clear that this now depends on the vaccine. That’s a big if currently...

Lord Sebastian Coe: I'm not a scientist and I don't think I will add any in-depth wisdom to this debate. What I will say is that speculating about something that is over a year away is probably unhelpful. Medical experts whose inputs I value have told me that this novel virus can take untold and strange journeys in its life cycle. I don't want to speculate beyond the end of the year because I'm not sure if that is particularly helpful. It's not just about public health here, we have to make a decision that gives the athletes the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics in a fair manner. We have to have our anti-doping structure up and running. So some of these decisions must lie with sport itself and we should not just rely on academic experts or government authorities.

DSD: You know what it means to be an Olympian and stand on the podium. Should they happen behind closed doors if a vaccine isn't found or should the Olympics only happen when they are a celebration of the best sporting talent in the world...

Lord Sebastian Coe: I'm not avoiding your question, I just don't know how to answer that because it is purely speculative. Nobody would want the Olympic Games to go ahead without fans. I hope we're not in a position where we even have to consider holding the Olympics behind closed doors. I hope by next year, the pandemic is at least confined and contained to a certain extent. I don't know whether a vaccine will be available or not, but I do think that speculating is not helpful for the athletes. There is a date that has been set by the IOC and all the national federations agreed to it. There have been multiple changes made by many sporting federations to their respective calendars and these have been tough decisions.i just hope that everyone doesn't get into the Monday night quarterback syndrome, where people just criticise the decisions have been made. I think at this moment, we just need to work on trying to get athletes back into competition as soon as possible in a safe manner and everything else will hopefully fall into place.

&nbsp;

DSD: Will that be the biggest challenge for global bodies, to ensure the integrity of sporting performance when all this ends?

Lord Sebastian Coe: the integrity of sport has to be of paramount importance. The reason we felt the games should be postponed was because we were fearful that some athletes would have an unfair advantage if they were not in an environment that was affected by the coronavirus. Hence they would be in a better position to perform at the Olympics than other athletes. We have to ensure that all athletes in the world get as close to a level-playing field as possible in these circumstances when we return to action.I don't want a situation where some athletes are securing their place for the Olympics, while others can't even leave their houses. We also want our anti-doping operations up and running around the world. The majority of the members of the athletes' commission were recommending an extended period of suspension Olympic qualification.

<img alt="Sebastian Coe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8e7eee66-e31c-413c-9e7e-df74cb6b3e73" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_RK1JK.jpg" />

DSD: Lord&nbsp;Coe, do you believe that there will ever be an admission of the scale of the manipulation by Russia. You have capped the neutral athlete program, hit them with a massive fine yet WADA now says that more evidence has emerged of close to 150 fresh cases of manipulation.

Lord Sebastian Coe: We have set up an independent task force, they have done a very good job working with the latest Russian athletics federation. The sanction was a very serious one, it is there to say and it's non-negotiable. If Russia wants to rejoin the family of athletics nations, then they know exactly what they need to do. I sincerely hope that they do the needful. Just because we are in lockdown and not holding competitions, that doesn't extend that period of sanction. They know exactly what to do and what dates to do it by. The charges that were proven and accepted by the new Russian federation were very serious and I'm glad that they have taken them seriously. I wait for their next move because it is important they meet the sanction that was extended. My council is non-negotiable on that front&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<o:p></o:p>

Two-time Olympic champion and president of World Athletics, Lord Coe, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on the future of athletics post-lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, sport behind closed doors, leadership in the sporting world, challenges for global sporting bodies and much more.

Two-time Olympic champion and president of World Athletics, Lord Coe, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on the future of athletics post-lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, sport behind closed doors, leadership in the sporting world, challenges for global sporting bodies and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Lord Coe, you have largely spent your life outdoors, so how has life been during this lockdown period? Lord Sebastian Coe: I think it has been a challenge for all of us, particularly those of us who like working in groups in our offices. But interestingly what comes as a surprise to a lot of people, is that being an athlete, you learn to work remotely for most of your career. The current generation of athletes is working remotely and using technology. Sometimes coaches are not at the training sessions or even the competitions. The coaches might be sitting eight time zones away from the athletes, but they get the opportunity to analyse the performance of athletes only 20 minutes after the competitions end in some cases. So in a funny sort of way, this period reminds me of the time that I used to work remotely as an athlete. DSD: I must say there probably aren't too many fitter than you as you close in on your 64th birthday. That 2.6 challenge looked pretty tough especially the push-ups. Lord Sebastian Coe: It was a very good challenge and it was actually created by the organisers of the London marathon. On the day of the London marathon, a lot of money is raised for charity like most big-city races. However, since the London marathon was postponed this year, there was a fear that a lot of charities would miss out. So the challenge that they came up with was to raise money for these charities as a substitute for the London marathon and also inspire people to do various exercises. I did the challenge and was able to raise some money. It was a good exercise in both ways. DSD: A few days back we got the newly revised Diamond League schedule. As the head of athletics what are the key factors you have to ensure are ticked before the resumption of the sport. There are bound to be travel restrictions and quarantine restrictions till a vaccine is found and it won't be fair on any athlete to miss out. Lord Sebastian Coe: I think the guiding principle has to be the safety of the athletes. No action will be taken that puts the athletes in harm's way. The very fact that we pushed the International Olympic Committee to make an early decision on the Tokyo Games was because of the safety of the athletes. It was a tough decision on the IOC's part and nobody is criticising them for that. Our guiding principle has always been the safety and comfort of the athlete. We realise that the athletes need to get back to competing, they want that and so do the fans. However, we have to be respectful and we cannot put them in any danger. It's not just about putting the athletes in harm's way, they, in turn, could infect their families and loved ones and we don't want that to happen. Wherever possible we have created a structure, the diamond league and continental tour will look very different once we resume. There isn't going to be an overall diamond league winner if we are able to get the competition up and running in august, which we hope will be possible. There isn't going to be a Diamond League final in Zurich. We have to ensure that athletes are able to enter competitions in a safe and secure manner, which doesn't increase the risk of spreading the infection. That is a real challenge and each one of the diamond league directors will identify a format for their competitions and list the safety considerations about two months before the events. DSD: Is social distancing possible in athletics? Its' not a contact sport but anything above the 400m mark brings close contact into play. Lord Sebastian Coe: Yes, that is true. Some events are slightly easier to conduct because the athletes run in lanes. Whereas other events like the 1500 metres, which was my event, will be more complicated. Although already I have been sent many inputs for these issues by various federations. The other day the Italian federation gave a suggestion that athletes in certain events could set off at staggered times and their aggregate timing would determine their placings. Everyone wants to get back to competing and all of us will try to be as creative and as ingenious as we can be to hold these competitions. We realise what the situation is at the moment, it isn't going to be possible to get stadiums full of fans. Different countries in the world are at varying stages of dealing with coronavirus pandemic. There are some countries where the increase in the number of cases have reduced, while others are still to hit their peak. My own country, the UK, is still locked down and most athletes do not have access to facilities, just like in India. DSD: Sport without fans is going to be the new normal for the time being but athletes thrive under the atmospherics so to say. Is that a sacrifice you grudgingly have to make considering how athletics was starting to draw in the crowds again. Lord Sebastian Coe: I think in the immediate future, we have to accept the fact that competitions are not going to be viewed by large groups of people. The athletes really need to get back to competitions, it is very important for them. Athletes don't just wake up in the morning to train, they train in order to compete at the highest level. So holding competitions without fans seems to be the sensible compromise at this point of time. We have to be guided by the information the various governments, the world health organisation and public health officials are giving us. However, ultimately sport will have to make its own decisions. There may come a time when sporting federations decide to resume action and that may even be without the approval of the authorities. Of course, we have to be respectful to the global health scenario, but ultimately the sporting federations have to make decisions that they think are in the best interest of not just the sport, but also the athletes. DSD: As administrators and guardians of the sport engaging with fans and keeping them interested will be crucial. Some sports have gone the virtual route but difficult to do that with athletics. You did have the ultimate garden challenge which was quite fun. Is that the way forward to balance the possible lack of fans in the stadium. Lord Sebastian Coe: I don't think there has been a sport which has done as much as athletics, to engage with the fans during this period. I'm very proud of the work that is been done at the world athletics headquarters, I'm proud of the creative ways in which the athletes are interacting with the fans and I'm also proud of the national bodies who are trying to help us in the digital space. No sport has responded to this crisis as well as athletics. We need to make sure that we utilise every bit of technology that allows us to stay more connected. This weekend I will be joining the African council meeting through video call, next week I will join the European and Oceania council meetings. I have spoken to athletes, the executive board, my council colleagues and working groups through various digital mediums. This morning I addressed members of our world athletics headquarters.so there is a lot that we can do with technology. I guess smart organisations are absorbing what they are learning as we go along. As a sport, we want to come out of this crisis stronger, fitter and more robust and in a better position to future proof ourselves. At the same time, we want to keep engaging with our fans and bring the sport closer to them. The real challenge that we have is to make sure that our fans feel connected to the athletes and the sport at large. It is all part of the same landscape. DSD: What this period has also shown is true leadership or the lack of it in the sporting world. You took the lead in asking the IOC to postpone the Olympics. Ultimately it proved to be the correct decision as sportspersons were not able to train. Lord Sebastian Coe: The decision on the postponement of the Olympic games was a very complicated one. I am not going to attribute any blame to any organisation. I was the chair of the organising committee at the 2012 London Olympic games and I can only imagine how tough it would have been for us if there was a crisis in 2012 and someone would have told me in March or April that there was a chance the games could get cancelled or postponed. It would have been a very tough ask. You have to figure out what to do with the venues, whether it be the permanent ones or temporary ones. There are various things that need to be dealt with in terms of sponsorship agreements. We made a judgement that was based on conversations that I was having within the sport, particularly with the athletes. They were effectively saying that they understood why the authorities were trying to keep the Olympics alive, but it is impossible to train during lockdown. The athletes said that it was possible to keep in shape indoors, but that's not the same as working on your stride patterns for a hurdles competition or working on your shotput or javelin throw. Athletes need specific training to get back into competition. That's why we felt that if we didn't make our views very clear, then there was a risk that the athletes were going to be left in this emotional turmoil which was longer than what was humanly kind to them. DSD: This anxiety, was it similar to the one you faced ahead of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Even today that anxiety exists as many presumptive Olympians are not able to leave their homes and train. Some may not be in the best shape with the Games 14 months away now and may not get that perfect sendoff they wanted. Lord Sebastian Coe: Yes, that is a valid question but I also want to make the point that we are no different than large chunks of the global population who are anxious about their jobs and their families. People are worried about their children's educational opportunities, job cuts are happening, so it is a very tough landscape and sport is no different. But the athletes have one great attribute, that they are very resilient. Elite athletes don't reach that level without showing extreme resilience and determination. I think they will regroup quickly. What I wanted to do, was give them some clarity that at least took them away from the mental roller-coaster of not knowing when the games will take place. I'm hoping that by the day, some of them will be able to get back to training at public facilities. Hopefully, they can return to do the type of training that will allow them to compete. We will do everything we possibly can to get them back into competition. I think the majority of the athletes that have been performing well will still be in contention for the Olympics next year, but for others, it is going to be tough. The extra year, for athletes who are at the end of the careers, will be difficult to adjust to. There is always the risk of injury in sport, no matter how old you are. Injuries always prove to be an obstacle in the potential success of an athlete. What we need to do is create some opportunity for competition to give some certainty to the athletes. We may not be able to hold every event that we have identified in the latter part of the year, but at least we will do everything we possibly can for the athletes to help them compete. DSD: The big question Lord Coe is, will the games happen? Japan has made it clear that this now depends on the vaccine. That’s a big if currently... Lord Sebastian Coe: I'm not a scientist and I don't think I will add any in-depth wisdom to this debate. What I will say is that speculating about something that is over a year away is probably unhelpful. Medical experts whose inputs I value have told me that this novel virus can take untold and strange journeys in its life cycle. I don't want to speculate beyond the end of the year because I'm not sure if that is particularly helpful. It's not just about public health here, we have to make a decision that gives the athletes the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics in a fair manner. We have to have our anti-doping structure up and running. So some of these decisions must lie with sport itself and we should not just rely on academic experts or government authorities. DSD: You know what it means to be an Olympian and stand on the podium. Should they happen behind closed doors if a vaccine isn't found or should the Olympics only happen when they are a celebration of the best sporting talent in the world... Lord Sebastian Coe: I'm not avoiding your question, I just don't know how to answer that because it is purely speculative. Nobody would want the Olympic Games to go ahead without fans. I hope we're not in a position where we even have to consider holding the Olympics behind closed doors. I hope by next year, the pandemic is at least confined and contained to a certain extent. I don't know whether a vaccine will be available or not, but I do think that speculating is not helpful for the athletes. There is a date that has been set by the IOC and all the national federations agreed to it. There have been multiple changes made by many sporting federations to their respective calendars and these have been tough decisions.i just hope that everyone doesn't get into the Monday night quarterback syndrome, where people just criticise the decisions have been made. I think at this moment, we just need to work on trying to get athletes back into competition as soon as possible in a safe manner and everything else will hopefully fall into place. DSD: Will that be the biggest challenge for global bodies, to ensure the integrity of sporting performance when all this ends? Lord Sebastian Coe: the integrity of sport has to be of paramount importance. The reason we felt the games should be postponed was because we were fearful that some athletes would have an unfair advantage if they were not in an environment that was affected by the coronavirus. Hence they would be in a better position to perform at the Olympics than other athletes. We have to ensure that all athletes in the world get as close to a level-playing field as possible in these circumstances when we return to action.I don't want a situation where some athletes are securing their place for the Olympics, while others can't even leave their houses. We also want our anti-doping operations up and running around the world. The majority of the members of the athletes' commission were recommending an extended period of suspension Olympic qualification. DSD: Lord Coe, do you believe that there will ever be an admission of the scale of the manipulation by Russia. You have capped the neutral athlete program, hit them with a massive fine yet WADA now says that more evidence has emerged of close to 150 fresh cases of manipulation. Lord Sebastian Coe: We have set up an independent task force, they have done a very good job working with the latest Russian athletics federation. The sanction was a very serious one, it is there to say and it's non-negotiable. If Russia wants to rejoin the family of athletics nations, then they know exactly what they need to do. I sincerely hope that they do the needful. Just because we are in lockdown and not holding competitions, that doesn't extend that period of sanction. They know exactly what to do and what dates to do it by. The charges that were proven and accepted by the new Russian federation were very serious and I'm glad that they have taken them seriously. I wait for their next move because it is important they meet the sanction that was extended. My council is non-negotiable on that front

Ace Indian squash player and 7-time Asian Games medalist, Saurav Ghosal, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, challenges squash a sport will face post-lockdown, international squash calendar, financial struggles of squash players, future of sports with travel restrictions in place and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Good to see you, Saurav. Now the only time a super-active player like you would be locked inside would be a nasty injury but nothing of that sort, so, is boredom your biggest enemy these days?

Saurav Ghosal: It's a difficult time for everyone. It feels strange being away from the squash court for so long, it has been more than nine weeks now and I have never spent that much time away from the game. I usually take about three weeks off in the summer, but i always know when I'll be back in action, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Whereas now we have no idea when things will open up and there is so much uncertainty in terms of the sporting calendar. I'm not sure if boredom is my biggest enemy, the bigger challenge is to accept the current situation and dealing with the anxiety of not knowing what will happen in the immediate future. I'm trying to keep a positive mindset and just trying to keep the clock ticking on a daily basis. Fortunately, I have gotten into a routine over the last few weeks and funnily enough, I now feel that there aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things that I want. I'm in a good space right now and hopefully, I can keep it like this till I return to the squash court.

DSD: You, in fact, made an extremely wise decision of flying back to India from London just after Holi. Was it a conscious decision to do so with the numbers rising globally from the pandemic back then...

Saurav Ghosal: I returned to India on the 13th of March. I&nbsp;was in London for the Canary Wharf Classic, unfortunately I lost in the quarter-finals on the 11th of March. I remember that day the Indian government had issued a travel advisory for various European countries and I felt like the situation was only going to get worse. I didn't want to end up being in a situation where I was stranded away from home and didn't have a place to stay. Luckily my travel agent was able to arrange a flight back to India on the 12th and I'm glad I made that decision to come back. Since then, things have gone into a downward spiral and there are so many people in the world who are struggling.

DSD: But lucky not to serve home quarantine. Our badminton team returning from the All England had to serve 21 day period of self-isolation.

Saurav Ghosal: At the time I came back from London, those travelling from the UK were not required to quarantine for two weeks upon returning. However, since I came back, I think I have only been outdoors once to go to the squash club. So it's not very different from what the badminton team experienced. I think it is the duty of every citizen of the country to be responsible in these times of crisis. We have to follow the government's guidelines if we want to return to normalcy or something that resembles a normal life.

DSD: So what's the routine like? I have seen you play at the Asian Games over the years and I can say that squash is an absolutely brutal sport when it comes to fitness levels so how are you managing?

Saurav Ghosal: It is difficult to plan your training schedule because we don't know when tournaments will resume. However, it is important to maintain some level of fitness and I think any physical activity also helps with mental health as well. I try to work on my physical fitness for about two hours every day. Fortunately, I have a lawn in my apartment complex, so I do some running there. I don't have much gym equipment, so that has forced me to get creative in my workout. It is important to keep the body and mind active at this point because I'm not getting the 'release' of playing on the squash court. Some people really enjoy going to the gym, but I am not one of those.

For me, playing squash is what is the end goal, that is what drives me. I look at working out as something that enables me to play the game of squash. &nbsp;My physical trainer and I are trying to come with a weekly plan for training, but it is very difficult to replicate the movement on the squash court. I think in terms of training in quarantine, no one really has the right answer because this is an unprecedented crisis, everyone is employing the trial and error method. Once I get back on the squash court, it definitely will take some time for me to return to my peak fitness level, but I have to do the best with the resources that are currently available to me. Training is hard but it is satisfying to get an intense physical work out under the belt.

<img alt="GHOSAL: SOCIAL DISTANCING IMPOSSIBLE DURING A SQUASH MATCH" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4f30339a-3366-429d-8f90-4497211106f3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_APH1237838.jpg" />

DSD: Have you been managing any basic kind of squash.perhaps just dribbling against the wall to keep you in touch with the fundamentals of the game.

Saurav Ghosal: There is a big wall next to the parking lot in my apartment complex and I hit a few balls there, once in 2-3 days. But it's strange to do that in an isolated environment because you don't have the reference point of the side or back walls, which is very important. It is helpful to at least work on my swing a little bit. I was speaking to the women's world number one, Raneem El Welily, the other day and she reckons that she will be a completely different player after this lockdown because of the lack of practice. She is one of the most talented players the world has ever seen and even she is worried about her skill levels dropping. For her to say something like that just shows you how difficult it is for an athlete to cope with a situation like this. I believe the priority for athletes is to maintain their mental health, it is important to not get pulled in to that dark hole of depression and anxiety.

DSD: What are the challenges you foresee when all this ends?&nbsp;The international squash calendar at the moment is suspended till July and your area&nbsp;of work is a confined glass court.

Saurav Ghosal: There can be some minor modifications, but the fundamentals of the sport cannot change. Social distancing will be impossible to practice in squash because of the lack of space on the court. Like badminton and tennis. Squash tournaments are held all over the world, so international travel has to resume for events to be held. There are health risks as well and players will have to be tested regularly before and during tournaments. I don't think we will reach a point in the near future when all the health risks can be eliminated. I think it is a question of minimising the risk as much as possible and work towards creating a safe environment for events to be held. It is a tough balancing act because there are many livelihoods at stake, but at the same time, we cannot take any action that increases the risk of the coronavirus spreading. I think these decisions have to be made after careful considerations and must not be made in haste.

DSD: And is that where Indian squash will struggle?&nbsp;With international events uncertain, do we have a strong domestic structure to keep people like you competitive?

Saurav Ghosal: There is no doubt that there are some talented players on the Indian circuit like Harinder Sandhu, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Ramit Tandon. But the level of competition is not the same as it would be against the top-20 players in the world. If there are some domestic tournaments before the international calendar begins, I would use it as an opportunity to get back in the groove and experiment on some aspects of my game. My goal is to do well and win events at the world stage, if those events don't take place, then the motivation levels are also not as high. For a limited period of time, the Indian federation can look into holding some tournaments so that the players get some action. However, for an extended period of time, it doesn't serve a major purpose for an athlete like me.

DSD: Squash also faces the same problems as professional sportspersons worldwide like tennis and golf when it comes to earnings.&nbsp;With tournaments not on, players and the ecosystem are not earning money and also the purse isn't as big as the cheques in tennis and golf.

Saurav Ghosal: A lot of livelihoods are dependent on the game of squash. The money might not be as much as tennis or golf, but many people need squash to fulfil their basic needs. If the game doesn't return in the near future, we might see people moving away from the sport. I think squash players will be able to survive financially till the end of the year, but in the new year it will be necessary for the sport to return, otherwise, the whole ecosystem of the sport will be in major trouble. We might even see players looking at other avenues for their financial well being. It is not just squash or sport in general, every industry has been hit by the coronavirus. There is only a certain period of time when an organisation can bank on their reserves for survival, any industry or ecosystem needs to be up and running after a period of time to be able to sustain those who are dependent on it for their livelihoods.<img alt="GHOSAL: SOCIAL DISTANCING IMPOSSIBLE DURING A SQUASH MATCH" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8e2bbb1-7e6a-42b5-b0f6-d0e3700baff5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1835111.jpg" />

DSD: Saurav, when it comes to prize money, do you think players will risk the health and fly all over the globe and serve quarantine to play each time.

Saurav Ghosal: It's definitely possible. I think it's a very personal decision for every athlete to make. There are a number of squash players who will be willing to take some risk in order to be able to earn some money because it is what they make a living on. It is a unique scenario and I don't think anyone should be judged on a decision that they make. Each person has to weigh the pros and cons of taking part in a particular event and then make a decision that is best for them. I think the PSA World Tour will only start once there are minimal health risks involved. I hope that the risks are mitigated to a great extent so that I feel comfortable travelling, communicating and playing. Hopefully, we'll soon be in a position when we don't have to think too much about these decisions.

DSD: What kind of leadership are you expecting from your world body. Some countries are starting to open up. Would it be better to club tournament into a &nbsp;country so that players fly-in, serve quarantine where required, play two or three weeks and then fly home…

Saurav Ghosal: When we're talking about holding events, the discussion is only about the big tournaments for the top players. But there are also many other tournaments for the lower-ranked players that will have to be organised and that will be a major challenge. The big tournaments are able to attract sponsorship and broadcasting rights. The PSA should look at addressing the problems of the lower-ranked players by planning some of the smaller events. The top players in the world are well-off and have enough financial savings to tide over this period of crisis. I think the federation should look at holding area-wise tournaments s for lower-ranked players, that means only players of certain countries will be able to participate in the championships. That will mean a drop in the number of player entries but it is a compromise we have to make at this time. Like I said before there is no wrong and right decisions at the time, but as long as the intent of these decisions is to look after the players and their safety, then the players will be on board.

DSD: For you personally Saurav, has this period been one of self-introspection or perhaps some new learning.you are also at that stage of your career when you can sit back and think of resetting targets...

Saurav Ghosal: We don't often get the opportunity to reflect and take stock of our lives and careers when we are on tour. Since we're either practising, travelling or recovering from an injury. I've been a professional for a very long time, but there are so many things that I have learnt about myself in the last two months. I am trying to incorporate that into my routine and hopefully, it will help me in the future. In terms of my career, every year during the off-season, I analyse my physical and mental state and it is only then that I make a decision to continue, after recharging my batteries, with fresh goals in mind. That downtime during the offseason has helped my refocus and re-energise, and I don't see any reason to change that. I feel physically and mentally fit and there is a lot more that I want to achieve in my career.

I am currently world number 13 and I also got into the top 10 for a while last year, but this is not when I want my career to end. Eventually, I want to be world number one and everything that I do right now is with that goal in mind. 2022 is a big year for me with the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. Even though I really want to play both those events, I will only take a final decision when I take stock again next summer. I don't want to look too far ahead and make a premature decision. Of course, those events are at the back of my mind, but those are not the only goals that I have. You have to be able to enjoy the process as much as anything. Sometimes when you have a long-term goal in mind, you tend to get distracted and then your performances suffer. It is important to keep a high level of focus and concentration in every match you play. Every point and detail counts and if I'm thinking about an event which is two years away, then I won't be able to give my 100%.

<img alt="GHOSAL: SOCIAL DISTANCING IMPOSSIBLE DURING A SQUASH MATCH" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="99a00aee-75bf-4b2e-9e09-2ae6eb384ad7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del75620.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;Being a global traveller that you are, what is the message we all need to take on board through this period of crisis. Viswanathan Anand believes we should show some restraint but just seeing the queues for the opening of liquor shops here means the race and the crowds will be back the moment this lockdown ends.

Saurav Ghosal: I think those of us who are fortunate to have a roof over our head and food on the table, should be grateful for all that we have. There are so many who do not have access to basic essentials in normal times, but this coronavirus crisis has in a way highlighted their strife. All of us have problems in some form of the other and how you deal with it is a matter of perception. I think you will always find a way to deal with these problems if you do not allow it to amount to a massive burden on your head. The best way to do that is to have gratitude to all the small things that you have. We need to realise that other people are desperate for certain things that we have and we should cherish these privileges. Everything is relative and once we look at things from that perspective, then automatically we will be more grateful. That, in turn, will bring more balance and calm in our lives. This is an internal process and is a journey rather than a goal in itself. I feel you need to go through tough times to be able to really cherish the joyful moments in life. Most people are saying that they are very lucky to be able to spend time with their respective families during the lockdown. Once the rat race begins, they will obviously not be able to do so, but even taking out a little bit of time for your loved ones in a day will go a long way in creating a positive ecosystem in the world. So hopefully people will have more gratitude once we overcome this crisis. 
&nbsp;

Ace Indian squash player and 7-time Asian Games medalist, Saurav Ghosal, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, challenges squash a sport will face post-lockdown, international squash calendar, financial struggles of squash players, future of sports with travel restrictions in place and much more.

Ace Indian squash player and 7-time Asian Games medalist, Saurav Ghosal, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, challenges squash a sport will face post-lockdown, international squash calendar, financial struggles of squash players, future of sports with travel restrictions in place and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Good to see you, Saurav. Now the only time a super-active player like you would be locked inside would be a nasty injury but nothing of that sort, so, is boredom your biggest enemy these days? Saurav Ghosal: It's a difficult time for everyone. It feels strange being away from the squash court for so long, it has been more than nine weeks now and I have never spent that much time away from the game. I usually take about three weeks off in the summer, but i always know when I'll be back in action, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Whereas now we have no idea when things will open up and there is so much uncertainty in terms of the sporting calendar. I'm not sure if boredom is my biggest enemy, the bigger challenge is to accept the current situation and dealing with the anxiety of not knowing what will happen in the immediate future. I'm trying to keep a positive mindset and just trying to keep the clock ticking on a daily basis. Fortunately, I have gotten into a routine over the last few weeks and funnily enough, I now feel that there aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things that I want. I'm in a good space right now and hopefully, I can keep it like this till I return to the squash court. DSD: You, in fact, made an extremely wise decision of flying back to India from London just after Holi. Was it a conscious decision to do so with the numbers rising globally from the pandemic back then... Saurav Ghosal: I returned to India on the 13th of March. I was in London for the Canary Wharf Classic, unfortunately I lost in the quarter-finals on the 11th of March. I remember that day the Indian government had issued a travel advisory for various European countries and I felt like the situation was only going to get worse. I didn't want to end up being in a situation where I was stranded away from home and didn't have a place to stay. Luckily my travel agent was able to arrange a flight back to India on the 12th and I'm glad I made that decision to come back. Since then, things have gone into a downward spiral and there are so many people in the world who are struggling. DSD: But lucky not to serve home quarantine. Our badminton team returning from the All England had to serve 21 day period of self-isolation. Saurav Ghosal: At the time I came back from London, those travelling from the UK were not required to quarantine for two weeks upon returning. However, since I came back, I think I have only been outdoors once to go to the squash club. So it's not very different from what the badminton team experienced. I think it is the duty of every citizen of the country to be responsible in these times of crisis. We have to follow the government's guidelines if we want to return to normalcy or something that resembles a normal life. DSD: So what's the routine like? I have seen you play at the Asian Games over the years and I can say that squash is an absolutely brutal sport when it comes to fitness levels so how are you managing? Saurav Ghosal: It is difficult to plan your training schedule because we don't know when tournaments will resume. However, it is important to maintain some level of fitness and I think any physical activity also helps with mental health as well. I try to work on my physical fitness for about two hours every day. Fortunately, I have a lawn in my apartment complex, so I do some running there. I don't have much gym equipment, so that has forced me to get creative in my workout. It is important to keep the body and mind active at this point because I'm not getting the 'release' of playing on the squash court. Some people really enjoy going to the gym, but I am not one of those. For me, playing squash is what is the end goal, that is what drives me. I look at working out as something that enables me to play the game of squash. My physical trainer and I are trying to come with a weekly plan for training, but it is very difficult to replicate the movement on the squash court. I think in terms of training in quarantine, no one really has the right answer because this is an unprecedented crisis, everyone is employing the trial and error method. Once I get back on the squash court, it definitely will take some time for me to return to my peak fitness level, but I have to do the best with the resources that are currently available to me. Training is hard but it is satisfying to get an intense physical work out under the belt. DSD: Have you been managing any basic kind of squash.perhaps just dribbling against the wall to keep you in touch with the fundamentals of the game. Saurav Ghosal: There is a big wall next to the parking lot in my apartment complex and I hit a few balls there, once in 2-3 days. But it's strange to do that in an isolated environment because you don't have the reference point of the side or back walls, which is very important. It is helpful to at least work on my swing a little bit. I was speaking to the women's world number one, Raneem El Welily, the other day and she reckons that she will be a completely different player after this lockdown because of the lack of practice. She is one of the most talented players the world has ever seen and even she is worried about her skill levels dropping. For her to say something like that just shows you how difficult it is for an athlete to cope with a situation like this. I believe the priority for athletes is to maintain their mental health, it is important to not get pulled in to that dark hole of depression and anxiety. DSD: What are the challenges you foresee when all this ends? The international squash calendar at the moment is suspended till July and your area of work is a confined glass court. Saurav Ghosal: There can be some minor modifications, but the fundamentals of the sport cannot change. Social distancing will be impossible to practice in squash because of the lack of space on the court. Like badminton and tennis. Squash tournaments are held all over the world, so international travel has to resume for events to be held. There are health risks as well and players will have to be tested regularly before and during tournaments. I don't think we will reach a point in the near future when all the health risks can be eliminated. I think it is a question of minimising the risk as much as possible and work towards creating a safe environment for events to be held. It is a tough balancing act because there are many livelihoods at stake, but at the same time, we cannot take any action that increases the risk of the coronavirus spreading. I think these decisions have to be made after careful considerations and must not be made in haste. DSD: And is that where Indian squash will struggle? With international events uncertain, do we have a strong domestic structure to keep people like you competitive? Saurav Ghosal: There is no doubt that there are some talented players on the Indian circuit like Harinder Sandhu, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Ramit Tandon. But the level of competition is not the same as it would be against the top-20 players in the world. If there are some domestic tournaments before the international calendar begins, I would use it as an opportunity to get back in the groove and experiment on some aspects of my game. My goal is to do well and win events at the world stage, if those events don't take place, then the motivation levels are also not as high. For a limited period of time, the Indian federation can look into holding some tournaments so that the players get some action. However, for an extended period of time, it doesn't serve a major purpose for an athlete like me. DSD: Squash also faces the same problems as professional sportspersons worldwide like tennis and golf when it comes to earnings. With tournaments not on, players and the ecosystem are not earning money and also the purse isn't as big as the cheques in tennis and golf. Saurav Ghosal: A lot of livelihoods are dependent on the game of squash. The money might not be as much as tennis or golf, but many people need squash to fulfil their basic needs. If the game doesn't return in the near future, we might see people moving away from the sport. I think squash players will be able to survive financially till the end of the year, but in the new year it will be necessary for the sport to return, otherwise, the whole ecosystem of the sport will be in major trouble. We might even see players looking at other avenues for their financial well being. It is not just squash or sport in general, every industry has been hit by the coronavirus. There is only a certain period of time when an organisation can bank on their reserves for survival, any industry or ecosystem needs to be up and running after a period of time to be able to sustain those who are dependent on it for their livelihoods. DSD: Saurav, when it comes to prize money, do you think players will risk the health and fly all over the globe and serve quarantine to play each time. Saurav Ghosal: It's definitely possible. I think it's a very personal decision for every athlete to make. There are a number of squash players who will be willing to take some risk in order to be able to earn some money because it is what they make a living on. It is a unique scenario and I don't think anyone should be judged on a decision that they make. Each person has to weigh the pros and cons of taking part in a particular event and then make a decision that is best for them. I think the PSA World Tour will only start once there are minimal health risks involved. I hope that the risks are mitigated to a great extent so that I feel comfortable travelling, communicating and playing. Hopefully, we'll soon be in a position when we don't have to think too much about these decisions. DSD: What kind of leadership are you expecting from your world body. Some countries are starting to open up. Would it be better to club tournament into a country so that players fly-in, serve quarantine where required, play two or three weeks and then fly home… Saurav Ghosal: When we're talking about holding events, the discussion is only about the big tournaments for the top players. But there are also many other tournaments for the lower-ranked players that will have to be organised and that will be a major challenge. The big tournaments are able to attract sponsorship and broadcasting rights. The PSA should look at addressing the problems of the lower-ranked players by planning some of the smaller events. The top players in the world are well-off and have enough financial savings to tide over this period of crisis. I think the federation should look at holding area-wise tournaments s for lower-ranked players, that means only players of certain countries will be able to participate in the championships. That will mean a drop in the number of player entries but it is a compromise we have to make at this time. Like I said before there is no wrong and right decisions at the time, but as long as the intent of these decisions is to look after the players and their safety, then the players will be on board. DSD: For you personally Saurav, has this period been one of self-introspection or perhaps some new learning.you are also at that stage of your career when you can sit back and think of resetting targets... Saurav Ghosal: We don't often get the opportunity to reflect and take stock of our lives and careers when we are on tour. Since we're either practising, travelling or recovering from an injury. I've been a professional for a very long time, but there are so many things that I have learnt about myself in the last two months. I am trying to incorporate that into my routine and hopefully, it will help me in the future. In terms of my career, every year during the off-season, I analyse my physical and mental state and it is only then that I make a decision to continue, after recharging my batteries, with fresh goals in mind. That downtime during the offseason has helped my refocus and re-energise, and I don't see any reason to change that. I feel physically and mentally fit and there is a lot more that I want to achieve in my career. I am currently world number 13 and I also got into the top 10 for a while last year, but this is not when I want my career to end. Eventually, I want to be world number one and everything that I do right now is with that goal in mind. 2022 is a big year for me with the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. Even though I really want to play both those events, I will only take a final decision when I take stock again next summer. I don't want to look too far ahead and make a premature decision. Of course, those events are at the back of my mind, but those are not the only goals that I have. You have to be able to enjoy the process as much as anything. Sometimes when you have a long-term goal in mind, you tend to get distracted and then your performances suffer. It is important to keep a high level of focus and concentration in every match you play. Every point and detail counts and if I'm thinking about an event which is two years away, then I won't be able to give my 100%. DSD: Being a global traveller that you are, what is the message we all need to take on board through this period of crisis. Viswanathan Anand believes we should show some restraint but just seeing the queues for the opening of liquor shops here means the race and the crowds will be back the moment this lockdown ends. Saurav Ghosal: I think those of us who are fortunate to have a roof over our head and food on the table, should be grateful for all that we have. There are so many who do not have access to basic essentials in normal times, but this coronavirus crisis has in a way highlighted their strife. All of us have problems in some form of the other and how you deal with it is a matter of perception. I think you will always find a way to deal with these problems if you do not allow it to amount to a massive burden on your head. The best way to do that is to have gratitude to all the small things that you have. We need to realise that other people are desperate for certain things that we have and we should cherish these privileges. Everything is relative and once we look at things from that perspective, then automatically we will be more grateful. That, in turn, will bring more balance and calm in our lives. This is an internal process and is a journey rather than a goal in itself. I feel you need to go through tough times to be able to really cherish the joyful moments in life. Most people are saying that they are very lucky to be able to spend time with their respective families during the lockdown. Once the rat race begins, they will obviously not be able to do so, but even taking out a little bit of time for your loved ones in a day will go a long way in creating a positive ecosystem in the world. So hopefully people will have more gratitude once we overcome this crisis.

Ghosal: Social distancing impossible during a squash match

Recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Olympic medallist, Gagan Narang in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a lot of things ranging from the life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, financial struggles of sporting organisations, impact of lack of live action on young shooters, his future goals and more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: This is a forced break Gagan but when was the last time you spent so much time at home...

Gagan Narang: It has actually been a blessing in disguise. After such a long time, I have been able to spend time at home with my parents and eat home-cooked food. For the last 23 years, I have been travelling all over the world because of shooting, and I have never been home for so long. So it has been a refreshing change and I have been able to recharge my batteries.

DSD: And I hear from reliable sources that you have been spending some time in the kitchen cooking up a feast..that's the tricks of the trade you pick up when you travel around the world for sport and mostly stay alone...

Gagan Narang: Yes, I try to help out as much as I can in the household. On international trips, one gets bored of the hotel food after a while. So I have made my own meals on tours in the past, you are forced to adapt to situations and that is the need of the hour. I have found myself craving home-cooked food while being on tours, so it's really great to be able to eat that home-food for a sustained period of time.

DSD: How have you been, you stay with elderly parents and you have been exercising extreme caution even when it comes to picking up essentials.

Gagan Narang: I have been going out for some relief work recently, but whenever I return I make sure I quarantine myself for a few days as a precaution. It can sometimes be a challenge to take care of my elderly parents, but I am grateful that I could spend so much time with them. It has been a very humbling experience for me. They are not used to having me around the house for such a long period of time, so one day my father absent-mindedly switched off the lights in my room while I was still in it. It is a strange situation for my parents and me but one that I am grateful for.

<img alt="Exclusive | Gagang Narang in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7ed1a154-fc6f-4228-85a9-ef20f31112c2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del6142587.jpg" />

DSD: For&nbsp;a lot of people Gagan this process of self-isolation has been quite unnerving as they are just not used to being indoors and left to themselves. But for people like you and other members of the Indian shooting team, this inst very odd as shooters usually prefer solitude &nbsp;...

Gagan Narang:&nbsp;Most events in our sport, including my event- the 10-metre air rifle- are played indoors. It is possible to train at home even when the shooting ranges are closed. In fact, I was just cleaning my gun after a long time just before this interview.

DSD: The problems for you though are not personal but more professional.you have quite a lot of academies across India and keeping them going must be extremely problematic.

Gagan Narang: Yes, it has been a tough situation because we are a&nbsp;not-for-profit academy. Our academies aim to widen the base of the sport at the grassroots level. So far we have managed somehow, we dug into our reserves to pay the salaries of the employees. We have adhered to all the rules of the government by shutting all our academies and sent all our staff back home. &nbsp;Measures are being taken to ensure that the families of the academy coaches and staff are taken care of. We have requested the owners of the shooting ranges to defer the rent payment and we will do all that we can to sustain the academies.

DSD: The government has these 'Khelo India' academies all over India, most of them are private academies that are affiliated to the Sports Ministry. Should the ministry be bailing those academies out which are struggling...

Gagan Narang: I think we have to understand that the world is going through a real crisis at the moment and sport is not one of the priorities. I think it will take some time for sport to return. All sports will definitely take a big hit. When the lockdown ends, the government should look at ways in which they can financially help these academies, which are contributing to our sporting ecosystem.

DSD: Let us look at your sport. As it stands everything is shut. You are a 4-time Olympian. Barring a few, the provisional Indian Olympic team has 11 first-timers. How do you keep them on track?

Gagan Narang: I think the training schedule of these shooters was very well planned by their coaches. There is a lot of knowledge and know-how in the Indian shooting structure now, which wasn't the case a few years back. I think their mentors will guide them well and help them figure out ways to keep themselves busy. One of the defining qualities of an athlete is that he or she is always positive, no matter what the situation. You have to be able to learn from the ups and downs in your life. Athletes are bound to go through hardships in their careers and it is only when athletes stay positive that they are able to win.

DSD: Your generation was different because the natural process and evolution of Indian shooting toughened you up, but this younger generation has only seen success and they have had access to the best facilities, how do we ensure that they stay mentally focussed and keep their skills sharp?

Gagan Narang: It is possible to do many drills at home that can keep you in the game. There is obviously no substitute to&nbsp;shooting at ranges, but visualisation and dry practice are some of the things that can help you keep in touch with your skills. It is impossible to be at your absolute best without training, but there is a lot of work that can be done on other aspects of your game which do not require access to shooting ranges. The younger generation has a huge advantage because they have no pressure on them, there is no baggage. They don't know fear or stress, they have achieved some great results in the last few years and they want to build on that. So they are looking forward rather than looking over their shoulders. This generation's mentality is different; participation is not enough for them nor is a bronze medal at the Olympics. They want to reach a level where they can win multiple gold medals for their country.

A few years ago, we were just happy to participate in the Olympics, but that is certainly not the case now. I believe that this break will not greatly affect the performance of the young Indian shooters and they will be competing for medal at the 2021 Olympics.

DSD: What about those Gagan who are limited by their events and can't train. The likes of Sanjeev Rajput and young Aishwary&nbsp;Tomar in the 50m events, the skeet boys Angad Bajwa and Mairaj Khan..they need proper outdoor functional ranges and that isn't happening.

Gagan Narang: Yes, it is a cause for concern. The shotgun events are the worst hit because it is impossible to train indoors. In the rifle events, a simulator can be used which is very similar to the real thing. I hope that the shotgun shooters get back to the range as soon as possible.

<img alt="Exclusive | Gagang Narang in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bd64efb5-bd16-4833-8af4-1e2ff926fba8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1235240.jpg" />

DSD: There are feasibility studies right now as to how to open up training.&nbsp;There are talks over quarantine camps. But at the moment the shooters are scattered all over the country and travel perhaps may not be safe. What would you suggest?

Gagan Narang: I believe that getting all the Indian shooters together in one camp would be a logistical challenge. It would also be a health and safety danger in the current crisis. I would suggest that the shooters continue training with their personal trainers and continue to be in a safe environment. They have been isolated thus far and I don't think any other risks should be taken. Possibilities could be explored of giving them access to shooting ranges close to their respective houses. That could be an ideal approach, but I believe that sporting administrators are more than capable of making these decisions on their own.

DSD: A few sportspersons I have spoken to over the course of this series suggest that mentally you should write off these months and think of this as the off-season. Easier said than done isn't it as there is bound to be anxiety about form, about retaining the Olympic quota...

Gagan Narang: As you know Digvijay, we have no real off-season in shooting, so I believe it is a welcome break for these shooters. From that perspective, I'm sure all the shooters have found ways to occupy themselves. It is natural for shooters to be concerned about the shooting calendar since there is no clarity on the situation, but that is out of their control. I would advise them to keep working on certain aspects of their game and not get stressed about things that are out of their control.

DSD: Manavjit Sandhu, one of your fellow shooting Khel Ratna awardees, says he is concerned that with the international calendar all but over for the year there is going to be a lack of competition. Now thankfully we have fantastic bench strength in rifle and pistol and your parent body the NRAI perhaps needs to schedule a robust domestic calendar to keep everyone ready.

Gagan Narang: I think a full-fledged domestic competition would be very difficult to organise because of the logistical challenges. But tournaments for about 20 shooters, who are in contention to travel to the Olympics can be arranged to keep them sharp. But even that tournament would only be possible when the lockdown restrictions are eased. There is so much uncertainty surrounding everything at the moment, even when we return to our normal lives, it will be a 'new normal'. We do now know to what extent travel will open up, so holding domestic competitions could also be a challenge. I would say the best approach would be for the shooters to continue training in a safe and secure environment and maintain a positive attitude.

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DSD: Also, we have a very young bunch of shooters sitting on Olympic quotas.most of them have never known a break like this in their careers. ou are also a mentor and Elavenil Valarivan is air rifle world number one and in the mix for an Olympic berth. What is it you are telling her?

Gagan Narang: We must realise that qualifying for the Olympics is just one step in the process. But we must realise that our approach to the Olympics must not change just because of the scale of the event. Earlier, shooters used to make drastic changes to their training and schedules after qualifying for the Olympics. But this generation doesn't need to do that since they already have all facilities available to them even before qualifying for the Olympics. A shooter should approach the Olympics like any other event and give it their absolute best. A normal routine should be followed where time is also given to the family and that is what Elavenil is doing at the moment. She is taking care of her parents and making good use of this opportunity to spend quality time at home. She is working on some of her weaknesses and niggles, which will definitely help her in the long run. She is regular in her Scatt training and I keep a check on her scores. We get in touch through zoom calls once in a few days and she is keeping a positive mindset.

DSD: Is this the period Gagan where the changes to equipment etc can happen. A lot&nbsp;of people hold off tinkering till the Olympics but this gives you opportunity doesn’t it?

Gagan Narang: In the case of Elavenil, it wouldn't be ideal to change her equipment at the moment. We can maybe look at that when we meet so that there is better communication between the two of us. Generally, we do need new equipment from time to time, and we don't often get the time to get used to it because of the shooting calendar. We get very little time to adapt to the new technologies, so it is a challenge to be able to manage that in an appropriate manner.

DSD: With the Olympics postponed Gagan, all existing preparations have been binned. Do you agree with me when I say this will be a journey into the unknown due to the uncertainty, we may have competitions next year, we may not have. &nbsp;This could be a bit like that final qualifying shootout in Formula 1 where there is a sprint to the finish.

Gagan Narang: I wouldn't say that the current crisis will diminish the importance of the Olympic Games because ultimately it comes once in four years. The pressure will always be there to perform at the Olympics because it is simply the pinnacle of&nbsp;sport. Currently, I would advise the shooters to work on their short-term goals, but completely ignore the Olympics which is scheduled for next year.

DSD: Given the kind of experience you have, if there is no shooting calendar ready in January or February next year, how can we adapt, what should be the new approach for the sport?

Gagan Narang: I'm sure that situation will not arise. We are going to have shooting by January or February 2021. A lot of ranges in Europe have already opened and shooters have started training in staggered groups. When it comes to the approach, a lot of shooters have already hit the reset button on their clocks and preparing for events next year. Ideally, all the events that have been cancelled in 2020, should be held in the corresponding months in 2021 so that a shooter's plan is not affected.

DSD: For you personally, how has his lockdown refreshed you…you have won the full set of medals in your sport…the Olympics, World Championship, World Cup final, World Cup, Asiad and CWG…ready for another crack?

Gagan Narang: I actually was taking a break from the sport before the coronavirus crisis, so that I could spend some time with my parents. I have considered getting back to the sport, but I do not want to participate to make up the numbers. My shooting numbers are not so bad and I feel I can still compete at the highest level, but it is too early to make a decision on that. Right now, my priorities in life are different, so I'm concentrating on those things. But I have not ruled anything out, hopefully, we can overcome this crisis and then I will make a concrete decision.

Recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Olympic medallist, Gagan Narang in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a lot of things ranging from the life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, financial struggles of sporting organisations, impact of lack of live action on young shooters, his future goals and more.

Recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Olympic medallist, Gagan Narang in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a lot of things ranging from the life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, financial struggles of sporting organisations, impact of lack of live action on young shooters, his future goals and more. Digvijay Singh Deo: This is a forced break Gagan but when was the last time you spent so much time at home... Gagan Narang: It has actually been a blessing in disguise. After such a long time, I have been able to spend time at home with my parents and eat home-cooked food. For the last 23 years, I have been travelling all over the world because of shooting, and I have never been home for so long. So it has been a refreshing change and I have been able to recharge my batteries. DSD: And I hear from reliable sources that you have been spending some time in the kitchen cooking up a feast..that's the tricks of the trade you pick up when you travel around the world for sport and mostly stay alone... Gagan Narang: Yes, I try to help out as much as I can in the household. On international trips, one gets bored of the hotel food after a while. So I have made my own meals on tours in the past, you are forced to adapt to situations and that is the need of the hour. I have found myself craving home-cooked food while being on tours, so it's really great to be able to eat that home-food for a sustained period of time. DSD: How have you been, you stay with elderly parents and you have been exercising extreme caution even when it comes to picking up essentials. Gagan Narang: I have been going out for some relief work recently, but whenever I return I make sure I quarantine myself for a few days as a precaution. It can sometimes be a challenge to take care of my elderly parents, but I am grateful that I could spend so much time with them. It has been a very humbling experience for me. They are not used to having me around the house for such a long period of time, so one day my father absent-mindedly switched off the lights in my room while I was still in it. It is a strange situation for my parents and me but one that I am grateful for. DSD: For a lot of people Gagan this process of self-isolation has been quite unnerving as they are just not used to being indoors and left to themselves. But for people like you and other members of the Indian shooting team, this inst very odd as shooters usually prefer solitude ... Gagan Narang: Most events in our sport, including my event- the 10-metre air rifle- are played indoors. It is possible to train at home even when the shooting ranges are closed. In fact, I was just cleaning my gun after a long time just before this interview. DSD: The problems for you though are not personal but more professional.you have quite a lot of academies across India and keeping them going must be extremely problematic. Gagan Narang: Yes, it has been a tough situation because we are a not-for-profit academy. Our academies aim to widen the base of the sport at the grassroots level. So far we have managed somehow, we dug into our reserves to pay the salaries of the employees. We have adhered to all the rules of the government by shutting all our academies and sent all our staff back home. Measures are being taken to ensure that the families of the academy coaches and staff are taken care of. We have requested the owners of the shooting ranges to defer the rent payment and we will do all that we can to sustain the academies. DSD: The government has these 'Khelo India' academies all over India, most of them are private academies that are affiliated to the Sports Ministry. Should the ministry be bailing those academies out which are struggling... Gagan Narang: I think we have to understand that the world is going through a real crisis at the moment and sport is not one of the priorities. I think it will take some time for sport to return. All sports will definitely take a big hit. When the lockdown ends, the government should look at ways in which they can financially help these academies, which are contributing to our sporting ecosystem. DSD: Let us look at your sport. As it stands everything is shut. You are a 4-time Olympian. Barring a few, the provisional Indian Olympic team has 11 first-timers. How do you keep them on track? Gagan Narang: I think the training schedule of these shooters was very well planned by their coaches. There is a lot of knowledge and know-how in the Indian shooting structure now, which wasn't the case a few years back. I think their mentors will guide them well and help them figure out ways to keep themselves busy. One of the defining qualities of an athlete is that he or she is always positive, no matter what the situation. You have to be able to learn from the ups and downs in your life. Athletes are bound to go through hardships in their careers and it is only when athletes stay positive that they are able to win. DSD: Your generation was different because the natural process and evolution of Indian shooting toughened you up, but this younger generation has only seen success and they have had access to the best facilities, how do we ensure that they stay mentally focussed and keep their skills sharp? Gagan Narang: It is possible to do many drills at home that can keep you in the game. There is obviously no substitute to shooting at ranges, but visualisation and dry practice are some of the things that can help you keep in touch with your skills. It is impossible to be at your absolute best without training, but there is a lot of work that can be done on other aspects of your game which do not require access to shooting ranges. The younger generation has a huge advantage because they have no pressure on them, there is no baggage. They don't know fear or stress, they have achieved some great results in the last few years and they want to build on that. So they are looking forward rather than looking over their shoulders. This generation's mentality is different; participation is not enough for them nor is a bronze medal at the Olympics. They want to reach a level where they can win multiple gold medals for their country. A few years ago, we were just happy to participate in the Olympics, but that is certainly not the case now. I believe that this break will not greatly affect the performance of the young Indian shooters and they will be competing for medal at the 2021 Olympics. DSD: What about those Gagan who are limited by their events and can't train. The likes of Sanjeev Rajput and young Aishwary Tomar in the 50m events, the skeet boys Angad Bajwa and Mairaj Khan..they need proper outdoor functional ranges and that isn't happening. Gagan Narang: Yes, it is a cause for concern. The shotgun events are the worst hit because it is impossible to train indoors. In the rifle events, a simulator can be used which is very similar to the real thing. I hope that the shotgun shooters get back to the range as soon as possible. DSD: There are feasibility studies right now as to how to open up training. There are talks over quarantine camps. But at the moment the shooters are scattered all over the country and travel perhaps may not be safe. What would you suggest? Gagan Narang: I believe that getting all the Indian shooters together in one camp would be a logistical challenge. It would also be a health and safety danger in the current crisis. I would suggest that the shooters continue training with their personal trainers and continue to be in a safe environment. They have been isolated thus far and I don't think any other risks should be taken. Possibilities could be explored of giving them access to shooting ranges close to their respective houses. That could be an ideal approach, but I believe that sporting administrators are more than capable of making these decisions on their own. DSD: A few sportspersons I have spoken to over the course of this series suggest that mentally you should write off these months and think of this as the off-season. Easier said than done isn't it as there is bound to be anxiety about form, about retaining the Olympic quota... Gagan Narang: As you know Digvijay, we have no real off-season in shooting, so I believe it is a welcome break for these shooters. From that perspective, I'm sure all the shooters have found ways to occupy themselves. It is natural for shooters to be concerned about the shooting calendar since there is no clarity on the situation, but that is out of their control. I would advise them to keep working on certain aspects of their game and not get stressed about things that are out of their control. DSD: Manavjit Sandhu, one of your fellow shooting Khel Ratna awardees, says he is concerned that with the international calendar all but over for the year there is going to be a lack of competition. Now thankfully we have fantastic bench strength in rifle and pistol and your parent body the NRAI perhaps needs to schedule a robust domestic calendar to keep everyone ready. Gagan Narang: I think a full-fledged domestic competition would be very difficult to organise because of the logistical challenges. But tournaments for about 20 shooters, who are in contention to travel to the Olympics can be arranged to keep them sharp. But even that tournament would only be possible when the lockdown restrictions are eased. There is so much uncertainty surrounding everything at the moment, even when we return to our normal lives, it will be a 'new normal'. We do now know to what extent travel will open up, so holding domestic competitions could also be a challenge. I would say the best approach would be for the shooters to continue training in a safe and secure environment and maintain a positive attitude. DSD: Also, we have a very young bunch of shooters sitting on Olympic quotas.most of them have never known a break like this in their careers. ou are also a mentor and Elavenil Valarivan is air rifle world number one and in the mix for an Olympic berth. What is it you are telling her? Gagan Narang: We must realise that qualifying for the Olympics is just one step in the process. But we must realise that our approach to the Olympics must not change just because of the scale of the event. Earlier, shooters used to make drastic changes to their training and schedules after qualifying for the Olympics. But this generation doesn't need to do that since they already have all facilities available to them even before qualifying for the Olympics. A shooter should approach the Olympics like any other event and give it their absolute best. A normal routine should be followed where time is also given to the family and that is what Elavenil is doing at the moment. She is taking care of her parents and making good use of this opportunity to spend quality time at home. She is working on some of her weaknesses and niggles, which will definitely help her in the long run. She is regular in her Scatt training and I keep a check on her scores. We get in touch through zoom calls once in a few days and she is keeping a positive mindset. DSD: Is this the period Gagan where the changes to equipment etc can happen. A lot of people hold off tinkering till the Olympics but this gives you opportunity doesn’t it? Gagan Narang: In the case of Elavenil, it wouldn't be ideal to change her equipment at the moment. We can maybe look at that when we meet so that there is better communication between the two of us. Generally, we do need new equipment from time to time, and we don't often get the time to get used to it because of the shooting calendar. We get very little time to adapt to the new technologies, so it is a challenge to be able to manage that in an appropriate manner. DSD: With the Olympics postponed Gagan, all existing preparations have been binned. Do you agree with me when I say this will be a journey into the unknown due to the uncertainty, we may have competitions next year, we may not have. This could be a bit like that final qualifying shootout in Formula 1 where there is a sprint to the finish. Gagan Narang: I wouldn't say that the current crisis will diminish the importance of the Olympic Games because ultimately it comes once in four years. The pressure will always be there to perform at the Olympics because it is simply the pinnacle of sport. Currently, I would advise the shooters to work on their short-term goals, but completely ignore the Olympics which is scheduled for next year. DSD: Given the kind of experience you have, if there is no shooting calendar ready in January or February next year, how can we adapt, what should be the new approach for the sport? Gagan Narang: I'm sure that situation will not arise. We are going to have shooting by January or February 2021. A lot of ranges in Europe have already opened and shooters have started training in staggered groups. When it comes to the approach, a lot of shooters have already hit the reset button on their clocks and preparing for events next year. Ideally, all the events that have been cancelled in 2020, should be held in the corresponding months in 2021 so that a shooter's plan is not affected. DSD: For you personally, how has his lockdown refreshed you…you have won the full set of medals in your sport…the Olympics, World Championship, World Cup final, World Cup, Asiad and CWG…ready for another crack? Gagan Narang: I actually was taking a break from the sport before the coronavirus crisis, so that I could spend some time with my parents. I have considered getting back to the sport, but I do not want to participate to make up the numbers. My shooting numbers are not so bad and I feel I can still compete at the highest level, but it is too early to make a decision on that. Right now, my priorities in life are different, so I'm concentrating on those things. But I have not ruled anything out, hopefully, we can overcome this crisis and then I will make a concrete decision.

Gagan Narang: Olympic postponement won't hold back hungry new generation

The recipient of Padma Shri and Indian tennis great, Vijay Amritraj, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a variety of things ranging from cancellation of Wimbledon, fate of US Open, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, sporting word post-lockdown, the rivalry between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, some of the iconic moments in his career, future of tennis in India and much more.

The recipient of Padma Shri and Indian tennis great, Vijay Amritraj, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a variety of things ranging from cancellation of Wimbledon, fate of US Open, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, sporting word post-lockdown, the rivalry between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, some of the iconic moments in his career, future of tennis in India and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Vijay Amritraj, we have managed to negotiate a 12 and a half-hour time zone difference for this interview. Many thanks for your time. Vijay Amritraj: Thanks for having me, Digvijay. This a first for me as well. Looking forward to covering a range of issues with you over the course of the interview. I would just like to say that my thoughts go out to all those who have lost their loved ones due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hopefully, we can keep the number of cases down to the minimum in India and overcome this crisis very soon. DSD: You are on the West Coast of America and that area has been a major COVID -19 hotspot. How difficult has it been for you all over there? Vijay Amritraj: Yes, it has been very difficult for us over here. In the US, it has spread rapidly over the last couple of months. The epicentre in the country was New York and because of the density of population in that area, it has been very difficult to contain the virus. Most people also use public transport in New York, which has been a major cause for the outbreak. Other parts of the country are not as densely populated and there is less contact between two individuals on an average. DSD: The question everyone seems to be asking is how did America get this so wrong? One-third of the cases worldwide have been from the US... Vijay Amritraj: Yes, the US does have to deal with natural disasters on a regular basis. There have been hurricanes and cyclones, but nothing on the scale of the coronavirus. The virus is so dangerous that it is really difficult to prepare for anything like this. The unprecedented nature of the crisis also makes it tough for the American Center for Disease Control or CDC to contain it in an appropriate manner. The last pandemic that caused so many deaths around the world was the Spanish flu back in 1918. We have had disasters since then, but they have been one-off events. We sometimes forget that the influenza virus kills over 36,000 people in the US every year, that is a huge number which gets overlooked, even though there is a vaccine present for influenza. So, I think it is essential to be prepared as a society for certain things that are likely to happen because we don't live in a local economy any more, we live in a truly global world. DSD: You go back in history and real leadership shines through in times of real crisis. Has this tragedy shown up a lot of leaders around the world? Vijay Amritraj: It's like that saying we use so often in sport, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That I feel holds true for every walk of life. The strength and character of individuals or governments are tested during times of strife. The real test for us as a global community is how we will be able to overcome this crisis together while being alone or isolated. Only a few days ago, it was the 75th anniversary of the victory of Britain and its allies in World War II. It takes me back to Winston Churchill's victory speech, which was really poignant and he was able to capture the spirit of the nation. That sort of strong leadership is what we need right now. The way our world leaders conduct themselves during this crisis is what they will be remembered for. I can only hope and pray that our world leaders can step up and rise to the expectations that we have of them. DSD: Okay, let's move away from politics. Wimbledon has been cancelled for the year but we have the US Open up next. As things stand it may go ahead but could be in your part of the world at Indian Wells that's the current buzz. Vijay Amritraj: There are a lot of rumours floating around, but nothing obviously has been confirmed. The last information I received was that the US Open organisers were waiting till June 1 to make a decision on the event. At the moment, the National Tennis Centre in New York is still a makeshift hospital with about 500 beds. The situation in New York is still very serious and because of that, I think the state machinery needs the facilities at Flushing Meadows. There are two choices available to the US Open organisers at the moment, the first is to play the tournament without any fans and the second would be to shift the event to Indian Wells on the West coast. But the difficulty in holding a Grand Slam event is that we have players coming in from all parts of the world. With the travel restrictions at present, it is going to be extremely difficult to co-ordinate the arrangements of all the players. Then there is the question of the frequency of testing. Even without fans, 4,000-5,000 people would be needed to run the event, who would have to practice social distancing. Professional tennis has actually returned, a tournament is being held in Orlando, Florida without any fans, but it is being broadcast on television and the internet. The event features four players among the top 60 players in the world and is being held without any ball-boys. During the match, only the two players and the umpire are on the court. It's the first sporting event that will be shown live in the last two months, so it will be a great test event for other tournaments. DSD: The thing with sports like tennis and golf is, that players need to travel from all over the world,...Many countries don't even have flights operating yet, so will it be fair to hold tournaments when certain players won't be able to participate because of travel restrictions or quarantine regulations. Vijay Amritraj: Yes, that is a valid point. The UK has already introduced a two-week quarantine period for international travellers when they enter the country. That is probably going to be the case with other countries as well because they will have to watch their borders. I think travel restrictions are going to be present for the next few months, which makes it all the more difficult to hold a major international event like the US Open. DSD: The real dilemma perhaps is for the players.some of them really need the money now as the ecosystem of the sport has taken a hit. But then travelling from one country to another will also entail quarantine regulations. It is a complete journey into the unknown at the moment not just for tennis but for all professional sport. The situation is so bad that the Olympics got postponed. Vijay Amritraj: The Olympics had to be postponed, there was no way the event could have been held in the current crisis. There are still question marks over the 2021 Games as well because no one really knows when the situation will get better. The second most widely played sport in the world after football, is tennis and players travel all over the world on a weekly basis for tournaments. The various European football leagues take place domestically and it is possible to hold matches without the hassles of international travel. The media rights for the football leagues also generate a lot of revenue for the clubs. In tennis events in North America and Europe, there are mainly three sources of income - media and broadcasting rights, sponsorship and hospitality and ticket sales. Now if we telecast live events on the television and the internet, enough income can be brought in through sponsorship to sustain the sport over the next few months. In India, the major source of income for most sports events is sponsorship. Media and broadcasting rights don't amount for a substantial amount of money, except in the case of the IPL and other major cricket events. Ticket sales also contribute very little to the bottom line. So, I think live tennis can happen in India with domestic players taking part. DSD: How will sport react when all this finally opens up? Till a vaccine is found social distancing will remain the norm,..but in sports like tennis, golf there have to be repeated tests of the professionals because of the close proximity the players share with each other... Vijay Amritraj: In the case of golf, it is possible to maintain social distancing. The golfer can maintain a certain amount of distance with his or her caddie. Golf courses have opened up in California and it is possible to have staggered tee times for players, that way the golfer can travel through a course on a cart and not come in contact with any other person. So, it is possible to hold tournaments in golf in the current climate. Basketball is a contact sport, but since there are only ten players on the court, each one of them can be tested before a particular game. However, there might be logistical issues in testing. Holding events without fans might end up being the immediate new normal for sporting events. The NBA might even consider getting all the teams in one city in isolation camps so that they are able to play out the season. DSD: How do you look at the big 3 of men’s tennis bouncing back from this? Roger Federer had surgery and the last we saw him was hitting balls on a wall, Rafael Nadal hasn’t held a racket since Indian Wells and Novak Djokovic got into trouble for hitting the tennis courts in Spain. Vijay Amritraj: The big 3 are not even chasing history, they are just chasing each other. Roger Federer is now 38, so every 6-month window makes a huge difference to his career. He will certainly be looking to stay ahead of both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in that grand slam race. Nadal would have been the favourite for the French Open in May, he would have tied Federer's tally of 20 majors if he had won the tournament. Djokovic is also not far away from these two with 17 majors. If Federer had taken those two match points at Wimbledon last year, he would have built up a considerable lead on the Serb, but now Djokovic is hot on the heels of the Swiss maestro. The big 3 are not chasing history or money or fame. These three have made history in their own right and they continue to push each other to greater heights. The only question is how long will they be able to continue doing that. As for the chasing pack- Dominic Thiem Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas- these three are losing a year and that might prove to be a blow to them because they have a long way to go in catching up with the big 3. The non-elite players are losing momentum and will see this as a missed opportunity. The only thing common for all tennis players on both tours is that none of them has touched a tennis racket during the lockdown. DSD: It’s a remarkable rivalry isn't it Vijay, how the three have pushed each other. Today Federer is just one ahead of Nadal and Djokovic is breathing down both their necks and the younger and hungrier man. Vijay Amritraj: I have said this before on many occasions, I think that these three players are the best to have ever played the game of tennis. The incredible thing is that all of them are playing at the same time, which very rarely happens. These three have also been ruling the game for a long period of time, which is even more astounding. So if each of them had played in different generations, all three of them could have been considered the 'GOATs'. So we have been blessed to witness these three compete against each other at the highest level in the same era. The quality of tennis on the show by these men has been nothing short of extraordinary. That's what makes the rivalry so special. DSD: Think of it Vijay a decade ago Federer's claims to be the GOAT would have been uncontested. Today we have a major battle on. In your book do titles only decide ultimately who will be the greatest of all time? Vijay Amritraj: Those debates are best left for days when you are sitting with your friends over a bottle of wine. As to who among the men and women has the right to call themselves the greatest of all time, since the Open era, we have been fortunate enough to have witnessed a number of great champions in the sport. I have also been lucky to play against some of them in my career. The 2019 Wimbledon was the 50th consecutive year that I was involved with the event in some form. When you look back, Rod Laver is the only player to achieve a Grand Slam (winning all the majors in a year) twice in his career. That record has stood the test of time since 1969. It has been 50 years since anyone has won a calendar slam. When you see the big 3 playing, you could argue that all of them have a case for being the greatest of all time. In the women's game as well we have seen legendary players, be it Margaret Court or Billie Jean King, who has 20 Wimbledon titles to her name. Steffi Graff is the only player to complete a Golden Slam, which she did in 1988. Serena Williams is on the brink of history with her 23 grand slam single's titles and Martina Navratilova won so many grand slams that she has to be considered as well. We have seen great champions in this sport, but we can never compare different generations. DSD: You, of course, played across two or three really competitive eras yourself, when you started out you still had Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and John Newcombe active, how do those three compare to the current big 3? Vijay Amritraj: My claim to fame was beating Rod Laver at the US Open in 1973. In those days it was mandatory to have a good serve and volley game to be successful on most courts, that's what the Australians of the late 60s and 70s thrived on. If you look at the game today, it has completely changed. At Wimbledon these days, the baseline after the match is completely chewed up, whereas the net is in pristine condition. So the change in the style of play has led to the success of the Europeans, from a time when the sport was dominated by the Australians and Americans. DSD: That generation was fading and then Borg, Jimmy Connors and later John McEnroe made a memorable rivalry... Vijay Amritraj: Every generation seems to throw up these great champions and Bjorn borg, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe were certainly the greatest players of my generation in the 70s and 80s. I actually beat all three of them and there were a bunch of players, including myself, who were right on their heels. But there was no doubting the quality of Borg and co. Borg won six French Open titles and five Wimbledon crowns which is an incredible achievement as Wimbledon was the only grass event he played. The difference between the grass clay courts in those days was immense, which make borg's accomplishments even more impressive. Since then the courts have also completely changed. I predicted that Nadal would win Wimbledon before Federer would win the French Open and that's exactly how it turned out. The only occasion Federer won the french open was when Nadal lost to Robin Soderling. There were some great players in the late 80s and early 90s as well. Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg had an intense rivalry and that led into the Pete Sampras- Andre Agassi era, the American duo played out some spectacular matches. However, what stands out about the current big 3 is their consistency and longevity. DSD: You, of course, beat all of them and there aren't many Indian tennis players who can say I beat the best in the world when they were at their peak. Vijay Amritraj: I take great pride in the fact that I was able to beat the best in the world and play for my country at the highest level. I still feel I am representing my country in some capacity. When I played back in the day, the tricolour was hoisted because I was playing, so that filled me with a great sense of pride. As you got to the later round of the tournaments, the Indians would come out and support me in great numbers no matter where I was competing. That is something that motivated me to give my absolute all on the tour. When I beat the best players of my era, it was so special to me because it was so special to the people of my country. DSD: When you look back on your career Vijay, of course, you were equally adept at singles and doubles but there were 2 Davis Cup finals as well for India. 1974 where we didn’t play and then 1987. Akhtar Ali once told me that not playing the 1974 final was heartbreaking for you. Is that the biggest regret of your career? Vijay Amritraj: From an athlete's perspective, you cannot win it unless you're in it. So if you look at it from that perspective, it was certainly a missed opportunity. We were not given the chance to put India's name on the Davis Cup. In 1974, neither Australia nor the USA, who were the best two teams in the world at the time, were in the final. So I felt that we had a good chance of winning the Davis Cup. Whereas in 1987, we were massive underdogs and we lost comprehensively to Sweden, but it was a great effort from our side to reach the final, beating Australia in the semis. I was captain at the time and there was great camaraderie within the squad. Looking back at my career, I can proudly say that I was part of the Indian side that reached two Davis Cup finals. DSD: So where did Indian tennis go wrong, Vijay? We had icons like Ramanathan Krishnan, then you then came Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and then Sania Mirza. Yet the cupboard today is bare. A singles grand slam champion is a long way off. Vijay Amritraj: Yes, I agree with your assessment. Something has gone wrong along the way. When I played the game, it took me a long time to be able to convince people in India that tennis could be a profession. In fact, my whole career I made an attempt to make it possible for people in India to pursue tennis as a career. However, in India, that mindset never existed and it takes time for it to change. There is no greater risk in your professional career than choosing to pursue a sport. So, usually, people in India are scared to take major risks when it comes to sport. You have to look at sport in India as a start-up, people have to be ready to invest their time and money in a wide array of talent, only then will we reap the benefits. DSD: We will have to rebuild, a bit like rebuilding India. You do a lot of work here with your foundation Vijay and we have a long road ahead don’t we to get the economy back on track? Vijay Amritraj: Livelihoods have been adversely affected. This crisis is a worldwide phenomenon. It is not restricted to just India or the USA. We now have to be resilient as a society to get through tough times like these. Our leaders have to inspire millions and lead us to the light at the end of the tunnel. We have to be able to lean on each other for support and be compassionate. We must show unity while being away from each other. This is a truly unprecedented crisis, only those who lived through world war two could have gone through something remotely like the situation we find ourselves in. Today, we as a species have to come together more than ever before. DSD: Another famous son of Chennai, Viswanathan Anand told me some time back that the word was too fast and the virus took advantage. What are the lessons we all have to take on board from this unprecedented tragedy... Vijay Amritraj: I think we must learn to serve those around us, whether it be our family, friends or community. Our attitude towards life must change and we must be more magnanimous. Our strength lies in our unity and health, so we must first take care of ourselves ad then try to help out as many people as we can. This pandemic also shows us how truly global the world is. The virus doesn't see nationality, financial status, caste or creed. Everyone is equally susceptible to the disease. We must stand together as one human race in the face of the virus.

Exclusive: 'Travel restrictions make things difficult for US Open organisers' - Vijay Amritraj on tennis post-lockdown and more

The captain of Indian women's cricket team in WODI's Mithali Raj, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life under lockdown, cricket post-COVID-19, challenges of training indoors, the growth of women's cricket, India's chances in 2021 Women's World Cup, the emergence of young talents in the women's team and much more.

DSD: Good to have you on our lockdown series Mithali, how have you been holding up?

Mithali Raj: Initially it was tough to adjust to the new circumstances. As athletes, we are used to being outdoors, so it is difficult to be confined to these four walls. For all athletes, it is a challenge to deal with such a shift from their daily routines and that has a mental effect on the person as well. 
But as athletes, we are also trained to adapt to the conditions, so that's what I tried to do after the initial few days of the lockdown. I have tried to follow some sort of a schedule during this period.

DSD: I did scroll through your Twitter feed and clearly fitness and fitness tips have been top of the agenda through the last month and a half…

Mithali Raj: As international athletes, we have maintained a certain fitness level throughout our careers. However, we do not have access to the resources we have been training with, whether it be the gym or training ground. It is a challenge to train during this lockdown, but one has to try to do the best with the resources available. Some people might have access to a running track inside their society or some fitness equipment at home. But others like myself do not have those resources, so we are compelled to find creative ways to use our spaces inside our homes to maintain our physical fitness. I have been in constant touch with my trainer. It is natural that there will be some drop in our fitness levels during the lockdown, but we have to ensure that we maintain a basic level of training, so that once normalcy resumes we don't have to start from scratch.

DSD: Over the course of this series I have been speaking to some of India's top sportspersons and every sport has a different fitness routine….as a cricketer, how do you compensate for the lack of outdoor activity?

Mithali Raj: Initially I did some shadow and drop ball drills that I used to do when I had just started playing the game. But that becomes monotonous after a few days. So now I practice some shots with a tennis ball with the help of the kids in apartments. That way the children also have some activity and I'm in some way working on my skills.

DSD: Can you tell us a little about the way you have been contributing to those who are struggling during this crisis?

Mithali Raj: Yes I have tried to help out some migrant workers who are stranded here in Hyderabad. Most of them do not have access to essential services during the lockdown. I have also reached out to some university students who are stuck here because they too some times struggle for their day to day needs. I realise that I am in a privileged financial position and also fortunate that I can be with my family during this crisis. Everyone wants to be around their loved ones during this time and some aren't fortunate enough to be able to do that. I have some friends who are involved in various charitable activities and sometimes I just tag along with them to make myself aware of the reality around me. We become so engrossed in the rat race of our lives that we fail to realise how fortunate we are as people. When I see these people who are struggling, I realise what is really important in life. Sport is a huge part of my life and I am very grateful for the career it has given me, but it is not important than life itself.

DSD:&nbsp;One recurring theme through these conversations Mithali has been perspective. We are currently locked indoors by an invisible enemy. What are the lessons humanity has to take from this period?

Mithali Raj: I think this crisis is a great equaliser. The coronavirus doesn't see religion, caste or financial status. Everyone is equally susceptible to the disease. The government is trying very hard to encourage everyone to contribute towards the coronavirus funds. Everything else takes a back seat, once you see there are people struggling for access to the basic necessities of life.

DSD: As things stand international travel seems to be a big no-no at least till the end of September-October. For someone like you, that means it could be close to a year with no international action. Sunil Chhetri told me that every month that you don’t play makes it even more difficult if you are over 35. How challenging will it be for you to stay sharp?

Mithali Raj: The last One Day International I played was in November last year. After that, the team was preparing for the t20 world cup, so there wasn't any ODI series. Assuming things improve in the next few months, we will return to action in September or October. That means I would have been out of international action for about a year. I try to look at this break as a positive one for me to work on my fitness.despite the fact that I am stuck indoors, it does give me an opportunity to prepare physically and mentally for the next tournament, whenever it may come. I'm using this time to work on my fundamentals, be it for my fitness or cricket. There are so many aspects of your game that I don't get time to work on, because of the hectic schedule. So I am working on improving some of my weaknesses and hopefully this will bear some fruit when I am back in action.

<img alt="Exclusive | Mithali Raj in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b6097207-ba8b-4eef-a185-5976d4de0649" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1DQ38O.jpg" />

DSD: The team will not get the opportunity to be together for a long time, how will this also affect the lead-up to the 2021 world cup?

Mithali Raj: I think the future is very uncertain. It is difficult to say when we will be allowed to train outdoors, or when we will be allowed to travel for international matches. But when things do open up, we will get a better idea of the time frame we have for preparation. I'm sure every country will have a plan in mind for the World Cup, but that will only come to fruition once the lockdown ends. Being the captain of the team, my priority will be to get the girls together and create a positive environment for them which will fast-track the progress that is needed for us to get back on the field.

DSD: That’s the last dance for you isn't it? You have come so near in the past, and as we speak, is that your biggest regret not being able to get over the line especially the last final?

Mithali Raj: Yes, that is something that keeps me going. I thought the 2017 World Cup would be my last and I gave it my absolute all, but unfortunately, we fell at the final hurdle. The fact that we were so close to winning and then gave it away, does hurt a lot. We reached the final in 2005 as well but we were comprehensively beaten on that occasion. The final loss in 2017 has given me extra motivation to prepare for the 2021 World Cup and hopefully, we can go one step further this time.

DSD: Just before the COVID-19 crashed our lives you were at the MCG for that T20 World Cup final. It Didn’t go our way but what a sight for the women’s game to have a packed house…

Mithali Raj: Yes, women's cricket has come a long way since I started playing back in 1999. I never thought I would see a packed house in a venue like the MCG for a women's cricket match. It was not just the fans inside the stadium, the final between India and Australia also attracted record viewership. Women's cricket is definitely growing across the world and we are on the right path. There are people who closely follow women's cricket and importantly there are people who see it as a viable source of income, in terms of marketing and investments.

<img alt="Exclusive | Mithali Raj in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0cb9b789-3f7c-4a59-9d14-e6496d1a905d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_12Y9AN.jpg" />

DSD: Consistency though doesn’t always guarantee results, clearly the occasion got to the team in March and also in the World Cup final …how do you learn from these losses as a team?

Mithali Raj: When a team loses by a small margin, it is never because of the ability of the players. Usually, the team that is able to handle the pressure and keep its nerves comes out on top. So there have been a few occasions when we have reached the final of a major tournament but not been able to cross the line. We certainly have to work on being able to handle the pressure of playing in a big game. I have also noticed that even in the bilateral series we have played in the last two years, we have won&nbsp;the opening couple of games but lost the final few matches. We need to maintain our levels throughout the series because, in major ICC&nbsp;tournaments, it is during the latter stages of the events that you need to step up your game. I don't think we are any less capable than any team in the world, it is just that we need to be more mentally focussed during high-pressure games and believe in our ability as players.

DSD: Lots of talks right now that with boards across the world bleeding money the women’s game could be sacrificed. Does that frustrate you?

Mithali Raj: I haven't heard of any such development, but if that does happen it would be very disappointing. Women's cricket has come a long way and this coronavirus shutdown should not break the momentum that has been built over the last few years. I am very optimistic that the 2021 ODI World Cup will take place in February and that might attract many new fans to the women's game. The event might happen at the perfect time when people are longing for some sporting action. So that tournament will hopefully widen the fan base of the game and also draw in some major revenue for the game of cricket.

DSD: The International Olympic Committee has over the last few years batted for gender equality. The Tokyo games will see about 47 per cent female participation. Yet when it comes to pay there is no parity in professional sport. The US women's football team is having to go to court against USA soccer for equal pay. Why is this even a discussion?

Mithali Raj: It's not just about equal pay, it is about what the boards or organisers are doing to promote women's sport. For the women's game to grow, it needs to be given the same platform as the men's game. A women's tournament needs to be marketed as well as any other event for it to become a revenue generator. These issues are sometimes ignored when we talk about equality in sport. If there is a game of football on TV and I have the option of watching a men's match or a women's match, I would probably tune in to the men's game. That might not be because the men's game is of higher quality, but because the game has been marketed better and the players I see are more recognisable. The perspective of the viewer has to change towards women's sport and that has to be addressed in a holistic manner. The problem is not limited to sporting authorities or organisations, our whole approach towards the sport has to change.

DSD: You started your career at a time when not many, even the BCCI, frankly cared about the game. Things have changed now and with women’s cricket coming under the BCCI fold, lots of things have changed. The two World Cup final appearances have really helped the public image of women’s cricket as well, now you are also featuring in campaigns along with the men’s team...

Mithali Raj: I think it was a great moment when women's cricket in India came under the umbrella of the BCCI in 2006. Since then there have been a lot of positive changes for women's cricketers in India and the national team. When I started playing the game internationally in &nbsp;1999, we didn't even play in stadiums, we used to play in whatever local ground was available. But now things have changed substantially because of the BCCI, the national team plays in international stadiums all over the world. The BCCI has elevated the status of the women's game in the country. We are given access to excellent facilities and grounds, at par with the men's national team.

When I started playing with the national team, we barely had any support staff. There was just the coach and manager who travelled with the team. The recent T20 World Cup contingent was probably the largest in terms of the number of people in the support staff for the women's team, that just shows how far the game has come. This is a result of the steps taken by the board for the growth of the women's game. Initially, the board did struggle to come up with a structure for the game in India. However, there is a framework in place for the game now, with the emergence of the India U-19 and India 'A' teams. These teams will act as feeders to the national team and will make us an even stronger unit in the long term. Back in the late 90s, even if a couple of senior players retired, it would take a few years for the team to get the balance right again.

<img alt="Exclusive | Mithali Raj in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cc7e0b02-aad4-4198-b64b-d2f244651f18" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_QY9VD.jpg" />

DSD: You made your international debut&nbsp;in 1999…we have lots of young prodigies now breaking into the current team. What do you tell a young prodigy like Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues about adjusting to the 50 over format from T20?

Mithali Raj: I think every generation has a different approach to new challenges. Every approach to the game has pros and cons, there is certainly a difference in the way the younger generation plays the game, but that is only natural and positive for the growth of the sport. As far as their progress is concerned, it is important for them to stay grounded and focus on what is important. There are a lot of distractions in the age of social media and it can be tough to deal with. You can become an overnight star, but also lose everything you've got in a matter of days. The youngsters need mentoring and guidance so that they have the right balance in their lives. Anything that is done in extreme has an adverse effect in the long term. Even passion has its limits, it can prove to be detrimental. It is also important for them to have fun, that is part of the learning process. But they should never forget that they are India cricketers and representing the country. At the end of the day, it is their job to play the game of cricket and that is what earns them their bread. They have to realise that they are role models to millions and the way they conduct themselves is what people will remember them for. 
&nbsp;

The captain of Indian women's cricket team in WODI's Mithali Raj, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life under lockdown, cricket post-COVID-19, challenges of training indoors, the growth of women's cricket, India's chances in 2021 Women's World Cup, the emergence of young talents in the women's team and much more.

The captain of Indian women's cricket team in WODI's Mithali Raj, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life under lockdown, cricket post-COVID-19, challenges of training indoors, the growth of women's cricket, India's chances in 2021 Women's World Cup, the emergence of young talents in the women's team and much more. DSD: Good to have you on our lockdown series Mithali, how have you been holding up? Mithali Raj: Initially it was tough to adjust to the new circumstances. As athletes, we are used to being outdoors, so it is difficult to be confined to these four walls. For all athletes, it is a challenge to deal with such a shift from their daily routines and that has a mental effect on the person as well. But as athletes, we are also trained to adapt to the conditions, so that's what I tried to do after the initial few days of the lockdown. I have tried to follow some sort of a schedule during this period. DSD: I did scroll through your Twitter feed and clearly fitness and fitness tips have been top of the agenda through the last month and a half… Mithali Raj: As international athletes, we have maintained a certain fitness level throughout our careers. However, we do not have access to the resources we have been training with, whether it be the gym or training ground. It is a challenge to train during this lockdown, but one has to try to do the best with the resources available. Some people might have access to a running track inside their society or some fitness equipment at home. But others like myself do not have those resources, so we are compelled to find creative ways to use our spaces inside our homes to maintain our physical fitness. I have been in constant touch with my trainer. It is natural that there will be some drop in our fitness levels during the lockdown, but we have to ensure that we maintain a basic level of training, so that once normalcy resumes we don't have to start from scratch. DSD: Over the course of this series I have been speaking to some of India's top sportspersons and every sport has a different fitness routine….as a cricketer, how do you compensate for the lack of outdoor activity? Mithali Raj: Initially I did some shadow and drop ball drills that I used to do when I had just started playing the game. But that becomes monotonous after a few days. So now I practice some shots with a tennis ball with the help of the kids in apartments. That way the children also have some activity and I'm in some way working on my skills. DSD: Can you tell us a little about the way you have been contributing to those who are struggling during this crisis? Mithali Raj: Yes I have tried to help out some migrant workers who are stranded here in Hyderabad. Most of them do not have access to essential services during the lockdown. I have also reached out to some university students who are stuck here because they too some times struggle for their day to day needs. I realise that I am in a privileged financial position and also fortunate that I can be with my family during this crisis. Everyone wants to be around their loved ones during this time and some aren't fortunate enough to be able to do that. I have some friends who are involved in various charitable activities and sometimes I just tag along with them to make myself aware of the reality around me. We become so engrossed in the rat race of our lives that we fail to realise how fortunate we are as people. When I see these people who are struggling, I realise what is really important in life. Sport is a huge part of my life and I am very grateful for the career it has given me, but it is not important than life itself. DSD: One recurring theme through these conversations Mithali has been perspective. We are currently locked indoors by an invisible enemy. What are the lessons humanity has to take from this period? Mithali Raj: I think this crisis is a great equaliser. The coronavirus doesn't see religion, caste or financial status. Everyone is equally susceptible to the disease. The government is trying very hard to encourage everyone to contribute towards the coronavirus funds. Everything else takes a back seat, once you see there are people struggling for access to the basic necessities of life. DSD: As things stand international travel seems to be a big no-no at least till the end of September-October. For someone like you, that means it could be close to a year with no international action. Sunil Chhetri told me that every month that you don’t play makes it even more difficult if you are over 35. How challenging will it be for you to stay sharp? Mithali Raj: The last One Day International I played was in November last year. After that, the team was preparing for the t20 world cup, so there wasn't any ODI series. Assuming things improve in the next few months, we will return to action in September or October. That means I would have been out of international action for about a year. I try to look at this break as a positive one for me to work on my fitness.despite the fact that I am stuck indoors, it does give me an opportunity to prepare physically and mentally for the next tournament, whenever it may come. I'm using this time to work on my fundamentals, be it for my fitness or cricket. There are so many aspects of your game that I don't get time to work on, because of the hectic schedule. So I am working on improving some of my weaknesses and hopefully this will bear some fruit when I am back in action. DSD: The team will not get the opportunity to be together for a long time, how will this also affect the lead-up to the 2021 world cup? Mithali Raj: I think the future is very uncertain. It is difficult to say when we will be allowed to train outdoors, or when we will be allowed to travel for international matches. But when things do open up, we will get a better idea of the time frame we have for preparation. I'm sure every country will have a plan in mind for the World Cup, but that will only come to fruition once the lockdown ends. Being the captain of the team, my priority will be to get the girls together and create a positive environment for them which will fast-track the progress that is needed for us to get back on the field. DSD: That’s the last dance for you isn't it? You have come so near in the past, and as we speak, is that your biggest regret not being able to get over the line especially the last final? Mithali Raj: Yes, that is something that keeps me going. I thought the 2017 World Cup would be my last and I gave it my absolute all, but unfortunately, we fell at the final hurdle. The fact that we were so close to winning and then gave it away, does hurt a lot. We reached the final in 2005 as well but we were comprehensively beaten on that occasion. The final loss in 2017 has given me extra motivation to prepare for the 2021 World Cup and hopefully, we can go one step further this time. DSD: Just before the COVID-19 crashed our lives you were at the MCG for that T20 World Cup final. It Didn’t go our way but what a sight for the women’s game to have a packed house… Mithali Raj: Yes, women's cricket has come a long way since I started playing back in 1999. I never thought I would see a packed house in a venue like the MCG for a women's cricket match. It was not just the fans inside the stadium, the final between India and Australia also attracted record viewership. Women's cricket is definitely growing across the world and we are on the right path. There are people who closely follow women's cricket and importantly there are people who see it as a viable source of income, in terms of marketing and investments. DSD: Consistency though doesn’t always guarantee results, clearly the occasion got to the team in March and also in the World Cup final …how do you learn from these losses as a team? Mithali Raj: When a team loses by a small margin, it is never because of the ability of the players. Usually, the team that is able to handle the pressure and keep its nerves comes out on top. So there have been a few occasions when we have reached the final of a major tournament but not been able to cross the line. We certainly have to work on being able to handle the pressure of playing in a big game. I have also noticed that even in the bilateral series we have played in the last two years, we have won the opening couple of games but lost the final few matches. We need to maintain our levels throughout the series because, in major ICC tournaments, it is during the latter stages of the events that you need to step up your game. I don't think we are any less capable than any team in the world, it is just that we need to be more mentally focussed during high-pressure games and believe in our ability as players. DSD: Lots of talks right now that with boards across the world bleeding money the women’s game could be sacrificed. Does that frustrate you? Mithali Raj: I haven't heard of any such development, but if that does happen it would be very disappointing. Women's cricket has come a long way and this coronavirus shutdown should not break the momentum that has been built over the last few years. I am very optimistic that the 2021 ODI World Cup will take place in February and that might attract many new fans to the women's game. The event might happen at the perfect time when people are longing for some sporting action. So that tournament will hopefully widen the fan base of the game and also draw in some major revenue for the game of cricket. DSD: The International Olympic Committee has over the last few years batted for gender equality. The Tokyo games will see about 47 per cent female participation. Yet when it comes to pay there is no parity in professional sport. The US women's football team is having to go to court against USA soccer for equal pay. Why is this even a discussion? Mithali Raj: It's not just about equal pay, it is about what the boards or organisers are doing to promote women's sport. For the women's game to grow, it needs to be given the same platform as the men's game. A women's tournament needs to be marketed as well as any other event for it to become a revenue generator. These issues are sometimes ignored when we talk about equality in sport. If there is a game of football on TV and I have the option of watching a men's match or a women's match, I would probably tune in to the men's game. That might not be because the men's game is of higher quality, but because the game has been marketed better and the players I see are more recognisable. The perspective of the viewer has to change towards women's sport and that has to be addressed in a holistic manner. The problem is not limited to sporting authorities or organisations, our whole approach towards the sport has to change. DSD: You started your career at a time when not many, even the BCCI, frankly cared about the game. Things have changed now and with women’s cricket coming under the BCCI fold, lots of things have changed. The two World Cup final appearances have really helped the public image of women’s cricket as well, now you are also featuring in campaigns along with the men’s team... Mithali Raj: I think it was a great moment when women's cricket in India came under the umbrella of the BCCI in 2006. Since then there have been a lot of positive changes for women's cricketers in India and the national team. When I started playing the game internationally in 1999, we didn't even play in stadiums, we used to play in whatever local ground was available. But now things have changed substantially because of the BCCI, the national team plays in international stadiums all over the world. The BCCI has elevated the status of the women's game in the country. We are given access to excellent facilities and grounds, at par with the men's national team. When I started playing with the national team, we barely had any support staff. There was just the coach and manager who travelled with the team. The recent T20 World Cup contingent was probably the largest in terms of the number of people in the support staff for the women's team, that just shows how far the game has come. This is a result of the steps taken by the board for the growth of the women's game. Initially, the board did struggle to come up with a structure for the game in India. However, there is a framework in place for the game now, with the emergence of the India U-19 and India 'A' teams. These teams will act as feeders to the national team and will make us an even stronger unit in the long term. Back in the late 90s, even if a couple of senior players retired, it would take a few years for the team to get the balance right again. DSD: You made your international debut in 1999…we have lots of young prodigies now breaking into the current team. What do you tell a young prodigy like Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues about adjusting to the 50 over format from T20? Mithali Raj: I think every generation has a different approach to new challenges. Every approach to the game has pros and cons, there is certainly a difference in the way the younger generation plays the game, but that is only natural and positive for the growth of the sport. As far as their progress is concerned, it is important for them to stay grounded and focus on what is important. There are a lot of distractions in the age of social media and it can be tough to deal with. You can become an overnight star, but also lose everything you've got in a matter of days. The youngsters need mentoring and guidance so that they have the right balance in their lives. Anything that is done in extreme has an adverse effect in the long term. Even passion has its limits, it can prove to be detrimental. It is also important for them to have fun, that is part of the learning process. But they should never forget that they are India cricketers and representing the country. At the end of the day, it is their job to play the game of cricket and that is what earns them their bread. They have to realise that they are role models to millions and the way they conduct themselves is what people will remember them for.

Exclusive: 'Motivation to win World Cup for India keeps me going' - Mithali Raj opens up on future of women's cricket post-COVID-19 and more

Former coach of the Indian hockey team, who was also a member of Australia hockey team at the 1984 Olympics, Michael Nobbs, in an exclusive conversation with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown in Sydney, how Australia can resume sports, matches behind closed doors, Tokyo Olympics, Indian hockey team and its medal prospects at the Games, and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo:&nbsp;The man I am speaking to can be introduced in many ways, as a hockey olympian, a former coach of the Indian hockey team, husband of an Olympic gold medalist and father of a soon to be Olympian. Those are many hats you wear Michael Nobbs but importantly all of them are related to hockey…

Michael Nobbs: Yes, it's the game I love. In fact, it's the game that we all love.

DSD: How are you Michael, good to know that the lockdown has been gradually eased in Sydney.

Michael Nobbs: It was tough initially because everyone was scared and had no idea how to deal with such an unprecedented crisis. But gradually we learnt how to cope with it and now we see that things are opening up. The great thing is that we here in Australia are approaching stage two of the three-step reopening plan of the government. This means we can have ten people at gatherings, go out and exercise and return to a somewhat normal life.

DSD: I am told that you Michael have been starting hockey coaching again with kids, you haven’t waited long have you.

Michael Nobbs: I love coaching children, it reminds me of why I fell in love with the game. This is such a great time to play the game because normally we are always preparing for some tournament or practising with some strategies in mind, but during this period we can just play for the love of the game. It's a unique opportunity to have fun.

DSD: How have you managed Michael, you are generally any outdoor person and can't imagine you cooped up all alone in your place in Sydney...

Michael Nobbs: I didn't cope with it well to be completely honest. Fortunately, I was able to keep in touch with my friends from all around the world through social media. I kept looking ahead and planning for what I would do when the lockdown measures are relaxed and luckily that time is already here. So I'm just delighted that I can be outdoors again.

DSD: Each country has dealt with the pandemic in different ways and in Australia, each state or province too has had different ways of tackling the virus. But the fact that the death toll has been kept near the hundred marks is exemplary work by the health services.

Michael Nobbs: Yes, the people in Australia have followed all the coronavirus guidelines of the government, including practising social distancing. People in Australia have been very careful in ensuring that the disease does not spread rapidly. The health authorities have also been very proactive and the containment measures have been very effective. There is a phone app as well which will be available soon which will allow people to stay away from danger zones.

DSD: How soon do you think Australia will return to normalcy, given that there hasn't been a stark rise in the number of cases in the past few weeks.

Michael Nobbs: I don't think things will get back to normal for a long time, till there's a vaccine available. I think domestic competitions in Australia will start to get underway in July. However, in terms of international competitions, I don't see the travel restrictions being lifted which means we won't see any action this year.

DSD: Lots of debate in the world of cricket about the T20 World Cup&nbsp;in Australia. Do you think that event can go off without a hitch or they will have to play without spectators?

Michael Nobbs: I think the T20 World Cup will go ahead, but we have to ensure that everyone involved in the competition is virus-free. So the necessary tests have to take place. Right now, there aren't a lot of cases in Australia, but it just takes the one person to cause an outbreak. I think by the time the competition comes around in October, I hope will be able to hold matches with spectators.

DSD: Maybe we won't have a full MCG&nbsp;people will be scattered all over the stadium.

Michael Nobbs: Yes I think that is a possibility. We can have a distance between two families in the stadium, which means a stadium like the MCG would have about 30 to 40,000 spectators. That is enough to create an atmosphere. People will have to obey social distancing rules.

DSD: World sport has been tossed around violently by this pandemic but signs that sport is leading the fightback saying we won't be cowed down. Bundesliga starts behind closed doors on 16th May.could be a significant moment, if they go off without a hitch you could see a domino effect.

Michael Nobbs: I think the German Bundesliga is a very good test case for the world. It gives us an idea of the pros and cons of starting a major sporting competition. I think after 2-3 weeks of the Bundesliga, we will see other sports and competitions base their decisions on how the league is functioning in Germany.

DSD: Should sport resume behind closed doors. Some argue that the people need the distraction, sceptics say this is all about the money stuck in broadcast rights, the purists say how can you play team sport without the atmosphere

Michael Nobbs: Everyone loves a large crowd, there is no doubt about that. But when we were kids we used to play for the sheer love of the game, with absolutely no one watching. I realise there is a lot of money in sport, it is a huge business. The atmospherics are also a major part of top-level sport, so it does feel strange to play without spectators.

DSD: How has Australian sport coped through all of this?

Michael Nobbs: All sports are bleeding money at this point. Every domestic club relies on weekly action to sustain the salary of the employees, whether it be the players or the non-playing staff. It is going to be a tough road back for all these teams. We cannot have a full season because then one sport will overlap with the season of the other. Every sport is trying to figure out a way to survive.

DSD: In fact, if we go back to march the Australian Olympic Committee sort of put pressure on the IOC saying it would not send a team to the 2020 Olympics..that was a pretty brave call when the Olympic Committee has an IOC vice president in it.

Michael Nobbs: It is the ultimate goal of an athlete to compete at the Olympic games. Athletes, especially in individual sports, plan their preparation for four years in a way that they peak during this event, so it is very tough on them to postpone the games. But I don't think the IOC had any other choice. The health and safety of society have to be the top priority, and the postponement decision was taken keeping that in mind.

DSD: Now Michael Nobbs daughter Kaitlin was set to follow in the footsteps of her father and mother and become an olympian. Personally, how disappointing was it for the family?

Michael Nobbs: It was disappointing for us, but I was telling my daughter the other day that she is just 22 and there are bound to be more opportunities for her to compete at the Olympics if she keeps working hard. She was voted the &nbsp;Australian player of the year in 2019, so there's a good chance she retains her place in the squad. I'm pretty confident she will do well since she has got some of my genes.

DSD: I remember her from the time you were out coaching here Michael, that shy young girl has now become the 2019 Australian player of the year. What a dramatic evolution.

Michael Nobbs: We're really proud of her, not just of what she has achieved as a hockey player, but the way she conducts herself off the pitch. When you have a daughter, they tend to be like their mothers, very strong-willed. So it was tough at times when she was growing up, but I could not be more proud of the person she has become. I can't wait to see what she does in the future.

DSD: I don’t want to play spoilsport here Michael but question marks remain over the Tokyo games. How does that uncertainty affect probable first-time Olympians like your daughter?

Michael Nobbs: Kaitlin is also doing a nursing degree while pursuing her hockey career, so she is keeping herself busy. The dates of the Olympic games are out of her control, so there's no point dwelling on that. She loves to play the game and today she was trying to find a hockey field in her neighbourhood to just hit a few balls around. That just shows you the passion she has for the sport. She understands that she can only work on herself and the Olympics are out of her control.

DSD: Australia is a powerhouse when it comes to the Olympics.how much does an athlete risk currently in this climate, let's take three sports.hockey, swimming and athletics.not possible to follow social distancing in these sports so what is the option.

Michael Nobbs: I think training has already started in groups of ten in some sports while practising social distancing. I think it all comes down to the frequency of testing and the number of tests we can conduct in a short span of time. If you can test 40-50 people in about 3 or 4 hours, then those people can be deemed safe to participate in a particular event and it can go ahead. I realise the logistics of this can be a bit of a problem, but I don't see many other alternatives. Testing is essential for us to return to the sport in a safe environment.

DSD: As it stands most of the people I have spoken to admit that the 2020 international season is a write-off. We don’t know if we have a vaccine by the end of the year so you are probably looking at not a lot of competition before the 2021 games. Will that throw up a very very different Olympic podium from the ones we were expecting.

Michael Nobbs: It's definitely going to be interesting. If you can't have international competitions, it makes the Olympics less competitive. You need to be able to constantly be competing against good teams to be in the best shape possible for the Olympics, and I don't think that will be possible. So I agree, I think the 2021 games will be unpredictable. I already think there won't be any international competitions taking place in 2020. A competition like the pro league struggles for money during the best of times and now without any crowds or restart date in sight, there could be real problems for the FIH.&nbsp;I know a lot of teams were relying on the Pro League for their Olympic preparation so I don't know how teams will now play against international teams ahead of the Olympics.

DSD: How will hockey react to this period of no training. You had a nice and explosive start to the Olympic year with the Pro League matches. The momentum is gone now and probably peak fitness. You can't train in gyms and build up match fitness, can you?

Michael Nobbs: I think it's going to take six-nine months. It's going to be a huge task to get teams back to match fitness from this point. I don't think there is much money as well with the sporting authorities to conduct competitions because all the economies have tanked. It's going to be enormously difficult with the travel restrictions to hold international matches and I'm not sure how teams will prepare.

DSD: Considering the travel restrictions and quarantine measures in place, will the European teams have a slight advantage considering they can probably play against each other by September or October considering how easy it is to travel inside the eurozone.

Michael Nobbs: Yes I feel the Europeans will have a huge advantage. Us Australians have to travel to India to have high-level competition, which is obviously not possible at this point. We do have the possibility of playing New Zealand, but that will also become pointless after a few matches. The top 3-4 European teams can compete with each other regularly and it will certainly be a boon for them ahead of the Olympics. However, I still feel the Australian team will be well prepared for the games given the quality of the team.

DSD: How badly do you think has this postponement hit India. Lots of people were putting them down as medal contenders after a bright start to the Pro League.

Michael Nobbs: I think the team that we see now is a result of the programme that dr Narinder Batra put in place ten years ago. I remember when I was the coach of the Indian team, I felt that because of the system that was put in place, the team would be ready to compete for a medal at the 2020 Olympics. That's exactly how it has turned out, we see a team which plays outstanding hockey and can beat any team in the world on their day. India is a very young team and the players are going to find it difficult to maintain their levels without any competition. I doubt it will be possible for the federation to make any other top team travel to India. I'm not even sure if India can face Pakistan at the moment, even if they can, India are a much superior team to Pakistan currently in every aspect of the game. I used to love watching Pakistan play, but it is sad what has happened to their team. India-Pakistan games used to be major events some time ago, but now they are not nearly as competitive. However, it still might be a good idea for the two teams to start playing each other again because some competition is better than no competition.

DSD: We have had a procession of coaches Michael..it has no means been an easy road and it starts with you getting the team to London 2012. How have they evolved and is it because of the core mostly remaining the same, the likes of Sreejesh, Manpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh are still around...

Michael Nobbs: That was a conscious decision I made when I was in charge, I was confident that Manpreet Singh would be Olympic captain one day. In my opinion, one has to play 100-200 games for the country to become a top international player. When I was in charge, the senior players could dribble the ball like magicians, but their fundamentals were very poor and that's where we lost out to the European teams. So I made it a point, along with Harendra Singh, to ensure that the junior players who were coming in, had the fundamentals of the game instilled in them. Harendra also did a fantastic job with the players and now we see a team which has good chemistry, strong basics and a very good coach. I'm delighted to see Manpreet Singh do so well for the team. He has been an outstanding captain and led by example from the first time I met him ten years ago.

Former coach of the Indian hockey team, who was also a member of Australia hockey team at the 1984 Olympics, Michael Nobbs, in an exclusive conversation with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown in Sydney, how Australia can resume sports, matches behind closed doors, Tokyo Olympics, Indian hockey team and its medal prospects at the Games, and much more.

Former coach of the Indian hockey team, who was also a member of Australia hockey team at the 1984 Olympics, Michael Nobbs, in an exclusive conversation with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown in Sydney, how Australia can resume sports, matches behind closed doors, Tokyo Olympics, Indian hockey team and its medal prospects at the Games, and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: The man I am speaking to can be introduced in many ways, as a hockey olympian, a former coach of the Indian hockey team, husband of an Olympic gold medalist and father of a soon to be Olympian. Those are many hats you wear Michael Nobbs but importantly all of them are related to hockey… Michael Nobbs: Yes, it's the game I love. In fact, it's the game that we all love. DSD: How are you Michael, good to know that the lockdown has been gradually eased in Sydney. Michael Nobbs: It was tough initially because everyone was scared and had no idea how to deal with such an unprecedented crisis. But gradually we learnt how to cope with it and now we see that things are opening up. The great thing is that we here in Australia are approaching stage two of the three-step reopening plan of the government. This means we can have ten people at gatherings, go out and exercise and return to a somewhat normal life. DSD: I am told that you Michael have been starting hockey coaching again with kids, you haven’t waited long have you. Michael Nobbs: I love coaching children, it reminds me of why I fell in love with the game. This is such a great time to play the game because normally we are always preparing for some tournament or practising with some strategies in mind, but during this period we can just play for the love of the game. It's a unique opportunity to have fun. DSD: How have you managed Michael, you are generally any outdoor person and can't imagine you cooped up all alone in your place in Sydney... Michael Nobbs: I didn't cope with it well to be completely honest. Fortunately, I was able to keep in touch with my friends from all around the world through social media. I kept looking ahead and planning for what I would do when the lockdown measures are relaxed and luckily that time is already here. So I'm just delighted that I can be outdoors again. DSD: Each country has dealt with the pandemic in different ways and in Australia, each state or province too has had different ways of tackling the virus. But the fact that the death toll has been kept near the hundred marks is exemplary work by the health services. Michael Nobbs: Yes, the people in Australia have followed all the coronavirus guidelines of the government, including practising social distancing. People in Australia have been very careful in ensuring that the disease does not spread rapidly. The health authorities have also been very proactive and the containment measures have been very effective. There is a phone app as well which will be available soon which will allow people to stay away from danger zones. DSD: How soon do you think Australia will return to normalcy, given that there hasn't been a stark rise in the number of cases in the past few weeks. Michael Nobbs: I don't think things will get back to normal for a long time, till there's a vaccine available. I think domestic competitions in Australia will start to get underway in July. However, in terms of international competitions, I don't see the travel restrictions being lifted which means we won't see any action this year. DSD: Lots of debate in the world of cricket about the T20 World Cup in Australia. Do you think that event can go off without a hitch or they will have to play without spectators? Michael Nobbs: I think the T20 World Cup will go ahead, but we have to ensure that everyone involved in the competition is virus-free. So the necessary tests have to take place. Right now, there aren't a lot of cases in Australia, but it just takes the one person to cause an outbreak. I think by the time the competition comes around in October, I hope will be able to hold matches with spectators. DSD: Maybe we won't have a full MCG people will be scattered all over the stadium. Michael Nobbs: Yes I think that is a possibility. We can have a distance between two families in the stadium, which means a stadium like the MCG would have about 30 to 40,000 spectators. That is enough to create an atmosphere. People will have to obey social distancing rules. DSD: World sport has been tossed around violently by this pandemic but signs that sport is leading the fightback saying we won't be cowed down. Bundesliga starts behind closed doors on 16th May.could be a significant moment, if they go off without a hitch you could see a domino effect. Michael Nobbs: I think the German Bundesliga is a very good test case for the world. It gives us an idea of the pros and cons of starting a major sporting competition. I think after 2-3 weeks of the Bundesliga, we will see other sports and competitions base their decisions on how the league is functioning in Germany. DSD: Should sport resume behind closed doors. Some argue that the people need the distraction, sceptics say this is all about the money stuck in broadcast rights, the purists say how can you play team sport without the atmosphere Michael Nobbs: Everyone loves a large crowd, there is no doubt about that. But when we were kids we used to play for the sheer love of the game, with absolutely no one watching. I realise there is a lot of money in sport, it is a huge business. The atmospherics are also a major part of top-level sport, so it does feel strange to play without spectators. DSD: How has Australian sport coped through all of this? Michael Nobbs: All sports are bleeding money at this point. Every domestic club relies on weekly action to sustain the salary of the employees, whether it be the players or the non-playing staff. It is going to be a tough road back for all these teams. We cannot have a full season because then one sport will overlap with the season of the other. Every sport is trying to figure out a way to survive. DSD: In fact, if we go back to march the Australian Olympic Committee sort of put pressure on the IOC saying it would not send a team to the 2020 Olympics..that was a pretty brave call when the Olympic Committee has an IOC vice president in it. Michael Nobbs: It is the ultimate goal of an athlete to compete at the Olympic games. Athletes, especially in individual sports, plan their preparation for four years in a way that they peak during this event, so it is very tough on them to postpone the games. But I don't think the IOC had any other choice. The health and safety of society have to be the top priority, and the postponement decision was taken keeping that in mind. DSD: Now Michael Nobbs daughter Kaitlin was set to follow in the footsteps of her father and mother and become an olympian. Personally, how disappointing was it for the family? Michael Nobbs: It was disappointing for us, but I was telling my daughter the other day that she is just 22 and there are bound to be more opportunities for her to compete at the Olympics if she keeps working hard. She was voted the Australian player of the year in 2019, so there's a good chance she retains her place in the squad. I'm pretty confident she will do well since she has got some of my genes. DSD: I remember her from the time you were out coaching here Michael, that shy young girl has now become the 2019 Australian player of the year. What a dramatic evolution. Michael Nobbs: We're really proud of her, not just of what she has achieved as a hockey player, but the way she conducts herself off the pitch. When you have a daughter, they tend to be like their mothers, very strong-willed. So it was tough at times when she was growing up, but I could not be more proud of the person she has become. I can't wait to see what she does in the future. DSD: I don’t want to play spoilsport here Michael but question marks remain over the Tokyo games. How does that uncertainty affect probable first-time Olympians like your daughter? Michael Nobbs: Kaitlin is also doing a nursing degree while pursuing her hockey career, so she is keeping herself busy. The dates of the Olympic games are out of her control, so there's no point dwelling on that. She loves to play the game and today she was trying to find a hockey field in her neighbourhood to just hit a few balls around. That just shows you the passion she has for the sport. She understands that she can only work on herself and the Olympics are out of her control. DSD: Australia is a powerhouse when it comes to the Olympics.how much does an athlete risk currently in this climate, let's take three sports.hockey, swimming and athletics.not possible to follow social distancing in these sports so what is the option. Michael Nobbs: I think training has already started in groups of ten in some sports while practising social distancing. I think it all comes down to the frequency of testing and the number of tests we can conduct in a short span of time. If you can test 40-50 people in about 3 or 4 hours, then those people can be deemed safe to participate in a particular event and it can go ahead. I realise the logistics of this can be a bit of a problem, but I don't see many other alternatives. Testing is essential for us to return to the sport in a safe environment. DSD: As it stands most of the people I have spoken to admit that the 2020 international season is a write-off. We don’t know if we have a vaccine by the end of the year so you are probably looking at not a lot of competition before the 2021 games. Will that throw up a very very different Olympic podium from the ones we were expecting. Michael Nobbs: It's definitely going to be interesting. If you can't have international competitions, it makes the Olympics less competitive. You need to be able to constantly be competing against good teams to be in the best shape possible for the Olympics, and I don't think that will be possible. So I agree, I think the 2021 games will be unpredictable. I already think there won't be any international competitions taking place in 2020. A competition like the pro league struggles for money during the best of times and now without any crowds or restart date in sight, there could be real problems for the FIH. I know a lot of teams were relying on the Pro League for their Olympic preparation so I don't know how teams will now play against international teams ahead of the Olympics. DSD: How will hockey react to this period of no training. You had a nice and explosive start to the Olympic year with the Pro League matches. The momentum is gone now and probably peak fitness. You can't train in gyms and build up match fitness, can you? Michael Nobbs: I think it's going to take six-nine months. It's going to be a huge task to get teams back to match fitness from this point. I don't think there is much money as well with the sporting authorities to conduct competitions because all the economies have tanked. It's going to be enormously difficult with the travel restrictions to hold international matches and I'm not sure how teams will prepare. DSD: Considering the travel restrictions and quarantine measures in place, will the European teams have a slight advantage considering they can probably play against each other by September or October considering how easy it is to travel inside the eurozone. Michael Nobbs: Yes I feel the Europeans will have a huge advantage. Us Australians have to travel to India to have high-level competition, which is obviously not possible at this point. We do have the possibility of playing New Zealand, but that will also become pointless after a few matches. The top 3-4 European teams can compete with each other regularly and it will certainly be a boon for them ahead of the Olympics. However, I still feel the Australian team will be well prepared for the games given the quality of the team. DSD: How badly do you think has this postponement hit India. Lots of people were putting them down as medal contenders after a bright start to the Pro League. Michael Nobbs: I think the team that we see now is a result of the programme that dr Narinder Batra put in place ten years ago. I remember when I was the coach of the Indian team, I felt that because of the system that was put in place, the team would be ready to compete for a medal at the 2020 Olympics. That's exactly how it has turned out, we see a team which plays outstanding hockey and can beat any team in the world on their day. India is a very young team and the players are going to find it difficult to maintain their levels without any competition. I doubt it will be possible for the federation to make any other top team travel to India. I'm not even sure if India can face Pakistan at the moment, even if they can, India are a much superior team to Pakistan currently in every aspect of the game. I used to love watching Pakistan play, but it is sad what has happened to their team. India-Pakistan games used to be major events some time ago, but now they are not nearly as competitive. However, it still might be a good idea for the two teams to start playing each other again because some competition is better than no competition. DSD: We have had a procession of coaches Michael..it has no means been an easy road and it starts with you getting the team to London 2012. How have they evolved and is it because of the core mostly remaining the same, the likes of Sreejesh, Manpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh are still around... Michael Nobbs: That was a conscious decision I made when I was in charge, I was confident that Manpreet Singh would be Olympic captain one day. In my opinion, one has to play 100-200 games for the country to become a top international player. When I was in charge, the senior players could dribble the ball like magicians, but their fundamentals were very poor and that's where we lost out to the European teams. So I made it a point, along with Harendra Singh, to ensure that the junior players who were coming in, had the fundamentals of the game instilled in them. Harendra also did a fantastic job with the players and now we see a team which has good chemistry, strong basics and a very good coach. I'm delighted to see Manpreet Singh do so well for the team. He has been an outstanding captain and led by example from the first time I met him ten years ago.

Michael Nobbs: Effective social distancing has helped Australia limit the fatalities

One of India's most successfull shooters, one of the first to be a senior world champion and the receipient of India's highest sporting award, the Khel Ratna in 2007, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, lack of competition in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, how shooters can adapt to the unprecedented cancellation and postponement of events, next-gen shooters, his medal-laden career and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Manavjit Sandhu, good to connect with you. Now I must confess that all through these last 2 decades of knowing you I have never had to conduct an interview through broadband.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, there are always new things to experience and it is great to connect with you through this new medium.

DSD: How have you been Manav, how easy or difficult has life been, you stay on the outskirts of Delhi and it is rather off the beaten track if one could say that.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: well, I can say that I have done my civic duty and not violated any lockdown rules. My family and I have been inside our house since the lockdown began. Fortunately, because I live on the outskirts of Delhi, I have a bit of space around my house and I have made full use of it. But it has definitely been a unique experience.

DSD: So you are the second Indian sportsperson to feature on this show after Pullela Gopichand for whom the timing of the interview had to be adjusted to ensure they do not clash with the children's online classes.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Well I must say it's extremely strange. I would have never imagined online school classes taking place. Sometimes we as parents are also asked to attend the classes, so its an interesting new development. Although it is definitely very valuable and it should carry on till the lockdown ends.

DSD: How have the all adjusted to this .thankfully you do have your parents staying next door and there is some company.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Actually this period has not been as difficult as I initially thought it would be. I have made constructive use of my time in a way that adds value to me as an individual and also spent quality time with my family. It has been a fruitful and pleasant experience so far.

DSD: For the majority of your career Manav you trained in Italy, I was speaking to Daniele Di Spigno the other day about the ordeal he and his fellow Italians had to go through. Have you been in touch with most of your friends there?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I did connect with most of my friends back in Italy. The news coming from there till a few weeks back was extremely worrying, all of my Italian friends were obviously worried about their health and safety since the country was one of the worst affected in the world. But I'm delighted that the situation has improved and fortunately all of my shooter friends are in good health.

<img alt="Exclusive | Manavjit Singh Sandhu in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0e1cc760-f5c5-4f0e-ae2b-4a77eb10fd4e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1266719.jpg" />

DSD: Italy started to open up this week, some other parts of Europe too are opening up and importantly sporting activities are gradually being allowed. None of that happening in India and is that a concern?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, it definitely is a matter of concern. There is only so much an athlete can benefit from a break. Eventually, any sportsperson needs to get back to practice to be able to compete at an international level.

DSD: Considering how the situation is globally, Manav do you honestly see international travel and any sort of sporting calendar resuming soon?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I have resigned to the fact that we won't get to see any international competitions this year. I think it is also unlikely that we will be able to organise high-level and competitive domestic tournaments in the next couple of months. That is a major cause for concern and I'm sure that sportspersons and national sporting administrations across the world are working on solutions to ensure that their athletes get a competitive advantage over other countries when the shutdown ends.

DSD: Already the word is adapt and reinvent. Like Rafael Nadal said he is already considering 2020 to be a write-off. Let's take your sport shooting. What does the NRAI need to do to keep its shooters sharp and in top shape? There is no way they can keep practising at home and keep the peak levels up.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, adaptability is the key. There is no doubt that this crisis will have a negative effect on all athletes in the world. The challenge is for every athlete to mitigate the negative effect of the shutdown. The sportspersons and the administrators have to take collective responsibility to deal with the problem. The countries which have a good organisational sporting structure will hold a competitive edge in 2021 when international action resumes. As far as India is concerned, we are faced with a unique set of challenges because of our high population density. If the government waits for things to return to normal, before allowing the sportsperson to return to training, then our athletes will certainly lose out on precious time. 
&nbsp; 
DSD: You competed at 4 Olympics, Manav, how gutted were you not to make the cut for Tokyo.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Over the course of my career, I have learnt that disappointment is part of an athlete's journey. Failure is what makes victory so special. I have accepted the fact that there are bound to be disappointments in my career and have learnt to deal with them. To be frank, I have dealt with the setback much better than I expected I would. The fact that I didn't qualify would have been easier to digest had I competed in tournaments and then missed out due to my performances, but the fact that I was out of action due to injury does make it a little tough for me to take in. But that is all in the past, I look forward to carrying on with great motivation and being successful at the highest level again.

DSD: How do you reassess career goals after a major disappointment like that, shotgun shooting isn't about age. Did you think of walking away from it all?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Walking away from a sport should never be a knee-jerk reaction to a loss. It would be unfair to me as well as my career. I would never make a retirement decision as a result of a setback. I will only consider retiring when I feel I can longer compete at a level which is good enough for me to win medals for my country. There is no point carrying on just for the sake of participation. So I am pragmatic enough to realise that. However, at the moment I feel I can compete at the highest level and have retained my place in the Indian team. I am also as motivated as I ever, so I see no reason to throw in the towel yet.

<img alt="Exclusive | Manavjit Singh Sandhu in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c20d097a-86b0-4616-8103-8b706aadb232" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV869751.jpg" />

DSD: Has this new break given you a new perspective on your career?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: My&nbsp;personal opinion is that the experienced athletes will be in a better position to deal with this enforced break. This is because an experienced sportsperson is able to keep himself or herself motivated through testing times. A sportsperson's life can get mundane because of the rigorous practice schedule. A break like this can work in my advantage because I think when I return I will have a renewed sense of hunger. On the other hand, young athletes who are just starting their careers will see this break as an obstacle in their career path and they will most likely get frustrated during this period. Since this year had so many major events scheduled, athletes will be disappointed to miss out on opportunities to win medals. At the moment, we have no goal to work towards because of the uncertainty around the sporting calendar, but once there is more clarity on the schedule, athletes will be able to motivate themselves again.

DSD: Most of these young guns bagged the Olympic qualifying spots. Just 4 shooters have been to an Olympics before. Now we have this postponement. We don’t have competitions, how do you guide them through this phase?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, I'm actually extremely concerned with how the young shooters will react to this break. But they are extremely talented and I'm sure they must be working on a plan to deal with the lockdown. I think a great responsibility lies with the federation to help the youngsters through this crisis and provide them with the necessary assistance and guidance. As far as us senior athletes are concerned, we can lead by example. Every season I take a break from the game when I don't even train for about a month. I feel that break helps me re-calibrate. Maybe some of the younger shooters can try that and see if it works for them. Although overall, every shooter will have different ways to deal with this period in the best manner and for that they need the complete support of the federation.

DSD: When you won the gold at the World Championship in 2006, it was a seminal moment with Abhinav Bindra also winning. Came just after Rajyavardhan Rathore's Olympic silver at Athens. Today you have a complete&nbsp;new bunch of kids dominating in rifle pistol. How do you see this evolution?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes it is great to see so many young guns winning medals for the country. There has been a paradigm shift in the confidence level of this young generation of shooters when compared with my generation. I remember when I was a youngster, my contemporaries and I were sometimes intimidated by our seniors and it took us some time to get over that hurdle before we could start competing with them. However, today's youngsters are not overawed by their senior competition, &nbsp;there is a certain amount of respect, but they don't let that affect their performance or their belief to win a medal. So this has been a very positive change in Indian shooting, they have won medals that some thought was impossible to win at such a young age. It is a huge boost for Indian shooting.

DSD: In hindsight&nbsp;Manav, seeing this fearless new generation, do you think you were too intense, too focussed and took it too seriously.&nbsp;I was at the Asian Games with you in Palembang and all these young kids were all on their PlayStations the night before the event...

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I will definitely say that my approach to the game was different when compared to the younger generation. However it remains to be seen which approach will reap more benefits in the long run, but once again I must emphasise that every shooter has a different approach to the sport. When I had started out my career, there were some shooters who liked to 'switch off' before a major competition, while I preferred to stay in the zone. I would say that the younger generation has a more relaxed approach to the game and that's good for the progress of the sport.

<img alt="Exclusive | Manavjit Singh Sandhu in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1f17f131-a9dc-465b-9ca0-146ed0a6c517" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del136472.jpg" />

DSD: There is a larger story here Manav and it revolves around Indian trap. Great legacy in the sport from the days of the late Karni Singh and Randhir Singh.we had a trap shooter in every Olympics since 1996. Why have we not been able to produce another Manav or a shooter of your calibre who has gone on to win around the world?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I have actually thought about this a lot over the last few years. It is my opinion that trapshooting is a sport that completely depends on individual talent rather than the sporting structure present in the country. I think there was a long time when there was a dearth of talent in trapshooting because we were dependent on the system to produce a world-beater. Now I think we have come to a conclusion that not only do we need a system in place, but we also need a strong talent who can be polished and nurtured by the system. In a highly complex sport like trap shooting, a great system must meet a great talent for long term success.

DSD: I mentioned above you went to 4 Olympics and each of those campaigns ended in disappointment. Why is it so tough to win an Olympic medal?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: The Olympic medal is equally difficult to win for all athletes, such is the nature of the event. It is because it comes once in four years, that the event is so special. I have always maintained that if you repeat the Olympic competition ten times, you will get ten different winners. It is a bit of a roulette. The Olympics is not the only level an athlete should strive to be successful at, one must aim to achieve excellence at every level and at different events. It is not just the one medal that we should strive for, we should hope to win medals for India at all events that we compete in.

DSD: The other worry is even though the Olympics are now next year, there remain conflicting signals as to whether they will be held at all if no vaccine is found.it is extremely difficult for those already with qualifying tickets to keep their intensity levels up. This has never happened before so how do you prepare for an event that has so much uncertainty...

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: It is undoubtedly going to be a huge challenge for the athletes to prepare for the Olympics. I would advise them not to keep stressing over the dates of the Olympics, but work on small-term goals. It is impossible to prepare for the Olympics at full throttle for the next 15 months.

DSD: how does world shooting adapt, what will the new normal Manav, can online competitions work especially in rifle and pistol events?

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Quite simply the shooting world has to adapt, just like every other sport. It might be a little tough for our sport to shift events online for the time being, but I feel it is a necessary step in the current crisis. Some events are easier to organise online, but trap shooting will be difficult to hold online because of the vast amount of infrastructure needed for the event. It is something ISSF should definitely consider keeping the sport alive during this period. Whether it be international or domestic competitions, the shooters will have something to look forward to and it will also give them an opportunity to maintain their level of focus and fitness.

DSD: What will be the learnings for humanity Manav when all this ends.imagine all of us forced indoors and into seclusion by an organism that we can’t even see.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: As sportspersons, we let our work take precedence over everything else around us. Periods like these help us reset our priorities and we realise that there are things which are more important than the next tournament. So this period has provided me with a new perspective. I have also learned how to utilise my time better, as sportspersons, we don't get an extended period of time that we spend away from our work, because we are constantly travelling or preparing for events. So it is important to extract value from this time and I believe I have been able to do that during this lockdown. Time management is also a very important life skill. There are many other skills that we have acquired during this period, but the challenge is to be able to utilise them once the lockdown ends.

One of India's most successfull shooters, one of the first to be a senior world champion and the receipient of India's highest sporting award, the Khel Ratna in 2007, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, lack of competition in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, how shooters can adapt to the unprecedented cancellation and postponement of events, next-gen shooters, his medal-laden career and much more.

One of India's most successfull shooters, one of the first to be a senior world champion and the receipient of India's highest sporting award, the Khel Ratna in 2007, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, lack of competition in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, how shooters can adapt to the unprecedented cancellation and postponement of events, next-gen shooters, his medal-laden career and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Manavjit Sandhu, good to connect with you. Now I must confess that all through these last 2 decades of knowing you I have never had to conduct an interview through broadband. Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, there are always new things to experience and it is great to connect with you through this new medium. DSD: How have you been Manav, how easy or difficult has life been, you stay on the outskirts of Delhi and it is rather off the beaten track if one could say that. Manavjit Singh Sandhu: well, I can say that I have done my civic duty and not violated any lockdown rules. My family and I have been inside our house since the lockdown began. Fortunately, because I live on the outskirts of Delhi, I have a bit of space around my house and I have made full use of it. But it has definitely been a unique experience. DSD: So you are the second Indian sportsperson to feature on this show after Pullela Gopichand for whom the timing of the interview had to be adjusted to ensure they do not clash with the children's online classes. Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Well I must say it's extremely strange. I would have never imagined online school classes taking place. Sometimes we as parents are also asked to attend the classes, so its an interesting new development. Although it is definitely very valuable and it should carry on till the lockdown ends. DSD: How have the all adjusted to this .thankfully you do have your parents staying next door and there is some company. Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Actually this period has not been as difficult as I initially thought it would be. I have made constructive use of my time in a way that adds value to me as an individual and also spent quality time with my family. It has been a fruitful and pleasant experience so far. DSD: For the majority of your career Manav you trained in Italy, I was speaking to Daniele Di Spigno the other day about the ordeal he and his fellow Italians had to go through. Have you been in touch with most of your friends there? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I did connect with most of my friends back in Italy. The news coming from there till a few weeks back was extremely worrying, all of my Italian friends were obviously worried about their health and safety since the country was one of the worst affected in the world. But I'm delighted that the situation has improved and fortunately all of my shooter friends are in good health. DSD: Italy started to open up this week, some other parts of Europe too are opening up and importantly sporting activities are gradually being allowed. None of that happening in India and is that a concern? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, it definitely is a matter of concern. There is only so much an athlete can benefit from a break. Eventually, any sportsperson needs to get back to practice to be able to compete at an international level. DSD: Considering how the situation is globally, Manav do you honestly see international travel and any sort of sporting calendar resuming soon? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I have resigned to the fact that we won't get to see any international competitions this year. I think it is also unlikely that we will be able to organise high-level and competitive domestic tournaments in the next couple of months. That is a major cause for concern and I'm sure that sportspersons and national sporting administrations across the world are working on solutions to ensure that their athletes get a competitive advantage over other countries when the shutdown ends. DSD: Already the word is adapt and reinvent. Like Rafael Nadal said he is already considering 2020 to be a write-off. Let's take your sport shooting. What does the NRAI need to do to keep its shooters sharp and in top shape? There is no way they can keep practising at home and keep the peak levels up. Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, adaptability is the key. There is no doubt that this crisis will have a negative effect on all athletes in the world. The challenge is for every athlete to mitigate the negative effect of the shutdown. The sportspersons and the administrators have to take collective responsibility to deal with the problem. The countries which have a good organisational sporting structure will hold a competitive edge in 2021 when international action resumes. As far as India is concerned, we are faced with a unique set of challenges because of our high population density. If the government waits for things to return to normal, before allowing the sportsperson to return to training, then our athletes will certainly lose out on precious time. DSD: You competed at 4 Olympics, Manav, how gutted were you not to make the cut for Tokyo. Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Over the course of my career, I have learnt that disappointment is part of an athlete's journey. Failure is what makes victory so special. I have accepted the fact that there are bound to be disappointments in my career and have learnt to deal with them. To be frank, I have dealt with the setback much better than I expected I would. The fact that I didn't qualify would have been easier to digest had I competed in tournaments and then missed out due to my performances, but the fact that I was out of action due to injury does make it a little tough for me to take in. But that is all in the past, I look forward to carrying on with great motivation and being successful at the highest level again. DSD: How do you reassess career goals after a major disappointment like that, shotgun shooting isn't about age. Did you think of walking away from it all? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Walking away from a sport should never be a knee-jerk reaction to a loss. It would be unfair to me as well as my career. I would never make a retirement decision as a result of a setback. I will only consider retiring when I feel I can longer compete at a level which is good enough for me to win medals for my country. There is no point carrying on just for the sake of participation. So I am pragmatic enough to realise that. However, at the moment I feel I can compete at the highest level and have retained my place in the Indian team. I am also as motivated as I ever, so I see no reason to throw in the towel yet. DSD: Has this new break given you a new perspective on your career? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: My personal opinion is that the experienced athletes will be in a better position to deal with this enforced break. This is because an experienced sportsperson is able to keep himself or herself motivated through testing times. A sportsperson's life can get mundane because of the rigorous practice schedule. A break like this can work in my advantage because I think when I return I will have a renewed sense of hunger. On the other hand, young athletes who are just starting their careers will see this break as an obstacle in their career path and they will most likely get frustrated during this period. Since this year had so many major events scheduled, athletes will be disappointed to miss out on opportunities to win medals. At the moment, we have no goal to work towards because of the uncertainty around the sporting calendar, but once there is more clarity on the schedule, athletes will be able to motivate themselves again. DSD: Most of these young guns bagged the Olympic qualifying spots. Just 4 shooters have been to an Olympics before. Now we have this postponement. We don’t have competitions, how do you guide them through this phase? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes, I'm actually extremely concerned with how the young shooters will react to this break. But they are extremely talented and I'm sure they must be working on a plan to deal with the lockdown. I think a great responsibility lies with the federation to help the youngsters through this crisis and provide them with the necessary assistance and guidance. As far as us senior athletes are concerned, we can lead by example. Every season I take a break from the game when I don't even train for about a month. I feel that break helps me re-calibrate. Maybe some of the younger shooters can try that and see if it works for them. Although overall, every shooter will have different ways to deal with this period in the best manner and for that they need the complete support of the federation. DSD: When you won the gold at the World Championship in 2006, it was a seminal moment with Abhinav Bindra also winning. Came just after Rajyavardhan Rathore's Olympic silver at Athens. Today you have a complete new bunch of kids dominating in rifle pistol. How do you see this evolution? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Yes it is great to see so many young guns winning medals for the country. There has been a paradigm shift in the confidence level of this young generation of shooters when compared with my generation. I remember when I was a youngster, my contemporaries and I were sometimes intimidated by our seniors and it took us some time to get over that hurdle before we could start competing with them. However, today's youngsters are not overawed by their senior competition, there is a certain amount of respect, but they don't let that affect their performance or their belief to win a medal. So this has been a very positive change in Indian shooting, they have won medals that some thought was impossible to win at such a young age. It is a huge boost for Indian shooting. DSD: In hindsight Manav, seeing this fearless new generation, do you think you were too intense, too focussed and took it too seriously. I was at the Asian Games with you in Palembang and all these young kids were all on their PlayStations the night before the event... Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I will definitely say that my approach to the game was different when compared to the younger generation. However it remains to be seen which approach will reap more benefits in the long run, but once again I must emphasise that every shooter has a different approach to the sport. When I had started out my career, there were some shooters who liked to 'switch off' before a major competition, while I preferred to stay in the zone. I would say that the younger generation has a more relaxed approach to the game and that's good for the progress of the sport. DSD: There is a larger story here Manav and it revolves around Indian trap. Great legacy in the sport from the days of the late Karni Singh and Randhir Singh.we had a trap shooter in every Olympics since 1996. Why have we not been able to produce another Manav or a shooter of your calibre who has gone on to win around the world? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: I have actually thought about this a lot over the last few years. It is my opinion that trapshooting is a sport that completely depends on individual talent rather than the sporting structure present in the country. I think there was a long time when there was a dearth of talent in trapshooting because we were dependent on the system to produce a world-beater. Now I think we have come to a conclusion that not only do we need a system in place, but we also need a strong talent who can be polished and nurtured by the system. In a highly complex sport like trap shooting, a great system must meet a great talent for long term success. DSD: I mentioned above you went to 4 Olympics and each of those campaigns ended in disappointment. Why is it so tough to win an Olympic medal? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: The Olympic medal is equally difficult to win for all athletes, such is the nature of the event. It is because it comes once in four years, that the event is so special. I have always maintained that if you repeat the Olympic competition ten times, you will get ten different winners. It is a bit of a roulette. The Olympics is not the only level an athlete should strive to be successful at, one must aim to achieve excellence at every level and at different events. It is not just the one medal that we should strive for, we should hope to win medals for India at all events that we compete in. DSD: The other worry is even though the Olympics are now next year, there remain conflicting signals as to whether they will be held at all if no vaccine is found.it is extremely difficult for those already with qualifying tickets to keep their intensity levels up. This has never happened before so how do you prepare for an event that has so much uncertainty... Manavjit Singh Sandhu: It is undoubtedly going to be a huge challenge for the athletes to prepare for the Olympics. I would advise them not to keep stressing over the dates of the Olympics, but work on small-term goals. It is impossible to prepare for the Olympics at full throttle for the next 15 months. DSD: how does world shooting adapt, what will the new normal Manav, can online competitions work especially in rifle and pistol events? Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Quite simply the shooting world has to adapt, just like every other sport. It might be a little tough for our sport to shift events online for the time being, but I feel it is a necessary step in the current crisis. Some events are easier to organise online, but trap shooting will be difficult to hold online because of the vast amount of infrastructure needed for the event. It is something ISSF should definitely consider keeping the sport alive during this period. Whether it be international or domestic competitions, the shooters will have something to look forward to and it will also give them an opportunity to maintain their level of focus and fitness. DSD: What will be the learnings for humanity Manav when all this ends.imagine all of us forced indoors and into seclusion by an organism that we can’t even see. Manavjit Singh Sandhu: As sportspersons, we let our work take precedence over everything else around us. Periods like these help us reset our priorities and we realise that there are things which are more important than the next tournament. So this period has provided me with a new perspective. I have also learned how to utilise my time better, as sportspersons, we don't get an extended period of time that we spend away from our work, because we are constantly travelling or preparing for events. So it is important to extract value from this time and I believe I have been able to do that during this lockdown. Time management is also a very important life skill. There are many other skills that we have acquired during this period, but the challenge is to be able to utilise them once the lockdown ends.

Exclusive: "Lack of home and away competitions in 2020 a major concern" - Manavjit Singh Sandhu on sports post-COVID-19 pandemic and more

Welsh football coach and pundit, Matt Holland, in a conversation with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from the resumption of football leagues, players safety and fitness, the money riding on major European leagues, future of transfer market and much more...

Digvijay Singh Deo: Matt, how are things over in Thailand? Not too many cases over there in comparison with India where we have seen an explosion in the last one week.

Matt Holland: Yes the situation is stable from the information that is being given to us. The most positive thing is that there haven't been as many fatalities as we have seen in other countries. The Thai community has been very disciplined during this crisis and people have helped each other out. There is no official lockdown in the country but there is a curfew at night. &nbsp;Shopping malls, stadiums obviously remain shut.

DSD: So how is a football professional like you adjusting to this life indoors. Have you reinvented yourself as a coach?

Matt Holland: Yes, I'd say so. I have gone through a bit of transition in my life. There has been a lot of reflection over the last few months since I was at my last club in Thailand. I went home to the UK during the off-season. I have had a project that has been in the pipeline for the last few years, so I have started that during the last six weeks. It is a formal consultancy programme and I have already got clients from the US, UK and India. I'm just trying to help the players and coaches get to the next level in football.

DSD: Lots of positive talk coming in from England about the resumption of the Premier League with the government also indicated that it could boost morale. Question is will it be a wise step?

Matt Holland: That's a very difficult question. It's ironic that those people who keep questioning how much footballers earn, those same people in the government want the sport to resume so that it can lift the spirits of the nation. In terms of the health and safety concerns of footballers, the authorities will have to be very cautious in whatever step they take, because nothing can endanger the lives of the players and people involved in the game.

<img alt="Matt Holland speaks to WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f894e500-562c-46b6-a6c0-9cf6547ddca1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1QX2LT.jpg" />

DSD: A lot of players including Sergio Aguero have come out and indicated that they are not keen to play. Is&nbsp;it fair to prioritise revenues ahead of safety?

Matt Holland: Yes, it is natural for these players to be worried about not just their own health, but also of their families. I remember I was petrified for the health of my young child when the virus first broke out. Most of the footballers have young children and it's natural for the players to worry about their safety.

DSD: Doctors have written to the premier league saying it is not going to be safe. Should there be a return unless there is a 100 per cent guarantee that players will be safe?

Matt Holland: If teams return to training, there could be as many as 60 to 100 people at the centres. This includes the coaching staff and various club employees, so it's not just the players we have to worry about. The doctors are obviously raising valid concerns and their points must be heard as medical professionals. I just think at this point no one really has answers as to when it will be completely safe to resume the football season.

DSD: It is pretty obvious isn't it matty that ultimately the clubs want the season to continue, it's simply about the money. There is a 750 million pound shortfall in television rights and clubs are already bleeding with no revenue.

Matt Holland: Yes there is a lot of money at stake not just for the premier league clubs, but also the lower league sides. The transfer fees of players have skyrocketed in the last few years, that just gives us an idea of how much money elite European clubs have. I think if the coronavirus crisis hadn't happened, we would have seen a world record transfer take place. This might have involved Kylian Mbappe or one of the Liverpool front three. No one would have questioned the amount if Mbappe had been bought for 200 million euros. So that's the kind of money there is in the game at the moment. The finances have definitely taken a hit and 750 million pounds is a lot to lose, but I think clubs will still be able to cope with the crisis.

DSD: The transfer fees of players are going to fall drastically now aren't they, but even then the question is will the clubs have enough money to purchase top players?

Matt Holland: It is unlikely that we see a lot of transfer activity this summer. The fees of the players will drop, but I&nbsp;think the nature of player contracts will also change. I feel bad for the lower league clubs because I know a lot of them are struggling financially. They have had to use the UK government's job retention scheme. I think all of us have to take a positive attitude towards changes in the global game. There are going to be major changes to the sport in the post-COVID-19 world and we have to embrace that. Many teams might come through stronger after the crisis and the sport will benefit from these experiences.

DSD: UEFA wants leagues to finish on the pitch but has admitted that where not possible, use points per game to decide the league positions. It is pretty simple in the Premier League and it will be a great travesty if Liverpool don't get awarded the title.

Matt Holland: I think with the lead Liverpool have got, they are going to be crowned champions regardless of the way the season ends.

<img alt="Matt Holland speaks to WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c98cc243-62d7-4cbf-9d3b-6d886087ff07" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1PO6BD.jpg" />

DSD: The problem comes below doesn't it? In the race for European spots as well as relegation.8 points separate teams in the places 15-20. Every one will say no we were on course to beat the drop and ultimately all clubs are selfish and want to stay in the league with the huge money on offer.

Matt Holland: I think I was listening to a radio interview when an expert said that if some clubs were offered 60 or 70 million pounds to get relegated, they would probably take it. So money is very important for these clubs. Let's not forget that there are still nine to ten matches each team has left, and there could be some crucial proverbial 'six-pointers' down at the bottom. So there's still a lot to play for. A couple of games can change the look of the table. There have been so many seasons in the premier league when the relegation places haven't been decided till the final day. Each team around the bottom of the table will still believe that they have a chance of staying up and will back themselves till the final day. Remaining in the premier league doesn't just affect the club and the finances, but also individual players. It has a long-term effect on players' careers, their contracts and their reputation. There is also a lot on the line for the coach, who will be desperate to avoid relegation because that affects his chances of getting a top job.

DSD: See right now there is an unprecedented situation in world sport. You have played over 75 per cent of the matches. If you stop now, is it unfair on teams who have struggled through the season?

Matt Holland: Yes, I think that is something we can take into consideration. We are done with three-quarters of the season and it is a valid point that certain teams haven't done well so far and that's why they are struggling. However these teams will back themselves to turn things around, they will argue that this break has been a welcome one for them and the team morale has improved. Sometimes a break does help a team in re-calibrating and re-fuelling. It is virtually impossible to prove those teams right or wrong in the current situation. A team like Norwich, who have played free-flowing attacking football throughout the season, but will probably go down because of their defensive naivety, they might benefit when the season resumes because other teams might not be as willing to as physical because of the dangers of the virus.

DSD: Should the league just end it right here and do a relegation playoff say in mid-June involving teams 15-20. The thing is one game could turn the table upside down and what if there is then another virus enforced break?

Matt Holland: I think the playoff format should definitely be considered for relegation and promotion spots. We see a different version of a playoff-format play out all around the world, we have it in Australia, USA and even in the Indian super league. I don't think any format should be ruled out at this point in time. It will be impossible to reach a solution which satisfies everyone in this scenario. Some teams will definitely feel hard done by, but that is bound to happen.

DSD: Let's look at Germany and examples of why it is unsafe. Bundesliga announced plans to restart but then three players of cologne tested positive. Its a bit like Russian roulette at the moment isn't it.

Matt Holland: Right now, no leagues are active, but if Germany starts the Bundesliga, which I think will happen anytime in the coming days, then we will see a domino effect across Europe. If the Bundesliga is able to function in a smooth manner, then that will set a precedent for the other top leagues. Here in Asia, South Korea is about to start its football league. But it could prove to be very dangerous and it's a huge gamble. Health and safety must be the top priority for governments. But if it is possible to hold football matches, then I think countries should make the effort to start competitions again. There are people who don't depend on the sport, but we sports lovers are used to action every week. It is part of our daily lives and can form part of family-bonding activities. We look forward to sporting events all week, sport is a cornerstone for spending quality time with friends and family.

<img alt="Matt Holland speaks to WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bfd93568-0b2e-4585-989e-1d5e7ba7891c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1QR1E2.jpg" />

DSD: Spain has detailed protocols for training to resume, individual sessions then group sessions with finally a team training session. How long&nbsp;will it take for players to return to peak fitness? And correspondingly how much time will it take then to get match fit.we are looking at what mid-June or late June.

Matt Holland: The fitness levels of the players will be different because of the varying level of facilities available at players' homes. To take the example of India, a player like Sunil Chhetri will be able to maintain a decent level of fitness because he will probably have some training equipment at home, but other players might not be as fortunate as him so their fitness will suffer. Going back to European football, I think if there's one person who should not get a pay cut is the fitness and conditioning coach. The fitness coach's job becomes even more important during this lockdown period. I have seen the kind of fitness programs the clubs have incorporated and I don't think it is enough to maintain the fitness levels of footballers. In my opinion, a whole pre-season will be needed for players to be match-fit. I would say around 4 weeks will be required for players to be mentally and physically ready for high-level competition.

DSD: If European football resumes in the next month or so, then do you expect players to undergo tests every two to three days.

Matt Holland: I think the question we have to ask ourselves is are people, who have continued to go to the office in the last few weeks, being tested every two or three days? The answer is no. Then I don't see any reason for footballers to be tested that regularly. Of course, I am not a medical professional so I'm just giving my opinion on the matter. I hope the clubs are able to figure out a way which allows a minimal number of people to be inside the training complex at a particular point of time. For example, the kitchen staff at the club can be asked to stay at home. An environment needs to be created where players and coaches are coming into the complex, completing their sessions and then going straight back home.

DSD: What are the lessons that the world of football can learn from this episode .has coronavirus burst the artificial bubble of football, is it time for us to reflect on the inflated footballing ecosystem.

Matt Holland: Ultimately I think this is a time to embrace the 'new normal' in the world of football. There isn't going to be a light-switch effect, this crisis is going to have long-lasting repercussions. I think the 'new normal' is already here and we have to adapt to it. When we come out of this crisis, we still have to be cautious and be aware of the dangers of transmitting the virus. I think the money is there in football because it is the most popular sport in the world and people can't get enough of it. I hope the top clubs do enough to help out the masses during this crisis. There might not be a revolutionary change in the way football clubs function after this, but clubs should fulfil a basic sense of social responsibility. I certainly think it is a time for reflection for the football world and maybe the introduction of some more financial regulations that will make the sport more sustainable.

Welsh football coach and pundit, Matt Holland, in a conversation with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from the resumption of football leagues, players safety and fitness, the money riding on major European leagues, future of transfer market and much more.

Welsh football coach and pundit, Matt Holland, in a conversation with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from the resumption of football leagues, players safety and fitness, the money riding on major European leagues, future of transfer market and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Matt, how are things over in Thailand? Not too many cases over there in comparison with India where we have seen an explosion in the last one week. Matt Holland: Yes the situation is stable from the information that is being given to us. The most positive thing is that there haven't been as many fatalities as we have seen in other countries. The Thai community has been very disciplined during this crisis and people have helped each other out. There is no official lockdown in the country but there is a curfew at night. Shopping malls, stadiums obviously remain shut. DSD: So how is a football professional like you adjusting to this life indoors. Have you reinvented yourself as a coach? Matt Holland: Yes, I'd say so. I have gone through a bit of transition in my life. There has been a lot of reflection over the last few months since I was at my last club in Thailand. I went home to the UK during the off-season. I have had a project that has been in the pipeline for the last few years, so I have started that during the last six weeks. It is a formal consultancy programme and I have already got clients from the US, UK and India. I'm just trying to help the players and coaches get to the next level in football. DSD: Lots of positive talk coming in from England about the resumption of the Premier League with the government also indicated that it could boost morale. Question is will it be a wise step? Matt Holland: That's a very difficult question. It's ironic that those people who keep questioning how much footballers earn, those same people in the government want the sport to resume so that it can lift the spirits of the nation. In terms of the health and safety concerns of footballers, the authorities will have to be very cautious in whatever step they take, because nothing can endanger the lives of the players and people involved in the game. DSD: A lot of players including Sergio Aguero have come out and indicated that they are not keen to play. Is it fair to prioritise revenues ahead of safety? Matt Holland: Yes, it is natural for these players to be worried about not just their own health, but also of their families. I remember I was petrified for the health of my young child when the virus first broke out. Most of the footballers have young children and it's natural for the players to worry about their safety. DSD: Doctors have written to the premier league saying it is not going to be safe. Should there be a return unless there is a 100 per cent guarantee that players will be safe? Matt Holland: If teams return to training, there could be as many as 60 to 100 people at the centres. This includes the coaching staff and various club employees, so it's not just the players we have to worry about. The doctors are obviously raising valid concerns and their points must be heard as medical professionals. I just think at this point no one really has answers as to when it will be completely safe to resume the football season. DSD: It is pretty obvious isn't it matty that ultimately the clubs want the season to continue, it's simply about the money. There is a 750 million pound shortfall in television rights and clubs are already bleeding with no revenue. Matt Holland: Yes there is a lot of money at stake not just for the premier league clubs, but also the lower league sides. The transfer fees of players have skyrocketed in the last few years, that just gives us an idea of how much money elite European clubs have. I think if the coronavirus crisis hadn't happened, we would have seen a world record transfer take place. This might have involved Kylian Mbappe or one of the Liverpool front three. No one would have questioned the amount if Mbappe had been bought for 200 million euros. So that's the kind of money there is in the game at the moment. The finances have definitely taken a hit and 750 million pounds is a lot to lose, but I think clubs will still be able to cope with the crisis. DSD: The transfer fees of players are going to fall drastically now aren't they, but even then the question is will the clubs have enough money to purchase top players? Matt Holland: It is unlikely that we see a lot of transfer activity this summer. The fees of the players will drop, but I think the nature of player contracts will also change. I feel bad for the lower league clubs because I know a lot of them are struggling financially. They have had to use the UK government's job retention scheme. I think all of us have to take a positive attitude towards changes in the global game. There are going to be major changes to the sport in the post-COVID-19 world and we have to embrace that. Many teams might come through stronger after the crisis and the sport will benefit from these experiences. DSD: UEFA wants leagues to finish on the pitch but has admitted that where not possible, use points per game to decide the league positions. It is pretty simple in the Premier League and it will be a great travesty if Liverpool don't get awarded the title. Matt Holland: I think with the lead Liverpool have got, they are going to be crowned champions regardless of the way the season ends. DSD: The problem comes below doesn't it? In the race for European spots as well as relegation.8 points separate teams in the places 15-20. Every one will say no we were on course to beat the drop and ultimately all clubs are selfish and want to stay in the league with the huge money on offer. Matt Holland: I think I was listening to a radio interview when an expert said that if some clubs were offered 60 or 70 million pounds to get relegated, they would probably take it. So money is very important for these clubs. Let's not forget that there are still nine to ten matches each team has left, and there could be some crucial proverbial 'six-pointers' down at the bottom. So there's still a lot to play for. A couple of games can change the look of the table. There have been so many seasons in the premier league when the relegation places haven't been decided till the final day. Each team around the bottom of the table will still believe that they have a chance of staying up and will back themselves till the final day. Remaining in the premier league doesn't just affect the club and the finances, but also individual players. It has a long-term effect on players' careers, their contracts and their reputation. There is also a lot on the line for the coach, who will be desperate to avoid relegation because that affects his chances of getting a top job. DSD: See right now there is an unprecedented situation in world sport. You have played over 75 per cent of the matches. If you stop now, is it unfair on teams who have struggled through the season? Matt Holland: Yes, I think that is something we can take into consideration. We are done with three-quarters of the season and it is a valid point that certain teams haven't done well so far and that's why they are struggling. However these teams will back themselves to turn things around, they will argue that this break has been a welcome one for them and the team morale has improved. Sometimes a break does help a team in re-calibrating and re-fuelling. It is virtually impossible to prove those teams right or wrong in the current situation. A team like Norwich, who have played free-flowing attacking football throughout the season, but will probably go down because of their defensive naivety, they might benefit when the season resumes because other teams might not be as willing to as physical because of the dangers of the virus. DSD: Should the league just end it right here and do a relegation playoff say in mid-June involving teams 15-20. The thing is one game could turn the table upside down and what if there is then another virus enforced break? Matt Holland: I think the playoff format should definitely be considered for relegation and promotion spots. We see a different version of a playoff-format play out all around the world, we have it in Australia, USA and even in the Indian super league. I don't think any format should be ruled out at this point in time. It will be impossible to reach a solution which satisfies everyone in this scenario. Some teams will definitely feel hard done by, but that is bound to happen. DSD: Let's look at Germany and examples of why it is unsafe. Bundesliga announced plans to restart but then three players of cologne tested positive. Its a bit like Russian roulette at the moment isn't it. Matt Holland: Right now, no leagues are active, but if Germany starts the Bundesliga, which I think will happen anytime in the coming days, then we will see a domino effect across Europe. If the Bundesliga is able to function in a smooth manner, then that will set a precedent for the other top leagues. Here in Asia, South Korea is about to start its football league. But it could prove to be very dangerous and it's a huge gamble. Health and safety must be the top priority for governments. But if it is possible to hold football matches, then I think countries should make the effort to start competitions again. There are people who don't depend on the sport, but we sports lovers are used to action every week. It is part of our daily lives and can form part of family-bonding activities. We look forward to sporting events all week, sport is a cornerstone for spending quality time with friends and family. DSD: Spain has detailed protocols for training to resume, individual sessions then group sessions with finally a team training session. How long will it take for players to return to peak fitness? And correspondingly how much time will it take then to get match fit.we are looking at what mid-June or late June. Matt Holland: The fitness levels of the players will be different because of the varying level of facilities available at players' homes. To take the example of India, a player like Sunil Chhetri will be able to maintain a decent level of fitness because he will probably have some training equipment at home, but other players might not be as fortunate as him so their fitness will suffer. Going back to European football, I think if there's one person who should not get a pay cut is the fitness and conditioning coach. The fitness coach's job becomes even more important during this lockdown period. I have seen the kind of fitness programs the clubs have incorporated and I don't think it is enough to maintain the fitness levels of footballers. In my opinion, a whole pre-season will be needed for players to be match-fit. I would say around 4 weeks will be required for players to be mentally and physically ready for high-level competition. DSD: If European football resumes in the next month or so, then do you expect players to undergo tests every two to three days. Matt Holland: I think the question we have to ask ourselves is are people, who have continued to go to the office in the last few weeks, being tested every two or three days? The answer is no. Then I don't see any reason for footballers to be tested that regularly. Of course, I am not a medical professional so I'm just giving my opinion on the matter. I hope the clubs are able to figure out a way which allows a minimal number of people to be inside the training complex at a particular point of time. For example, the kitchen staff at the club can be asked to stay at home. An environment needs to be created where players and coaches are coming into the complex, completing their sessions and then going straight back home. DSD: What are the lessons that the world of football can learn from this episode .has coronavirus burst the artificial bubble of football, is it time for us to reflect on the inflated footballing ecosystem. Matt Holland: Ultimately I think this is a time to embrace the 'new normal' in the world of football. There isn't going to be a light-switch effect, this crisis is going to have long-lasting repercussions. I think the 'new normal' is already here and we have to adapt to it. When we come out of this crisis, we still have to be cautious and be aware of the dangers of transmitting the virus. I think the money is there in football because it is the most popular sport in the world and people can't get enough of it. I hope the top clubs do enough to help out the masses during this crisis. There might not be a revolutionary change in the way football clubs function after this, but clubs should fulfil a basic sense of social responsibility. I certainly think it is a time for reflection for the football world and maybe the introduction of some more financial regulations that will make the sport more sustainable.

Bundesliga resumption could have a domino effect on other European Leagues: Matt Holland

Two-time world champion and one of the legends of world shooting, Daniele De Spigno, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life under lockdown in Italy, affect of COVID-19 in the world of sports, proposal of resuming Serie A, form of Olympic hopeful shooters, postponement of Tokyo Olympics and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: &nbsp;Daniele, thanks for connecting with us. Life is slowly finding a way back in your country. How difficult have the last 2 months been?

Daniele Di Spigno: The situation has been very grim here in Italy over the last couple of months. But now we see that some restrictions are being eased and we are trying to move towards some mode of 'normalcy'.

DSD: The numbers are staggering Daniele.close to 30,000 official deaths in Italy and many more cases of people struggling with the coronavirus. As a society, this will be a difficult time to forget.

Daniele Di Spigno: Absolutely. This crisis has been unprecedented, not just for Italy but the entire world. The economic effects of this lockdown have also been considerable and we are going to be facing tough times in the coming months as well. One of the things that struck me was the fact that people are not even able to hold funerals for their loved ones during the pandemic. It is horrible that people don't have the opportunity to say a final goodbye to their families and friends. The situation had become so bad in some cities in Italy that the army had to transport the dead bodies because the cemeteries had run out of places for bodies.

DSD: Daniele, for you personally what was it like to live through this pandemic. You are a 4-time &nbsp;world champion and you have won multiple medals in shooting. As a sportsperson, you learn to deal with adversity over yours. Yet you must have been helpless through the last 2 months.

Daniele Di Spigno: The advice that I gave to the shooters that I coach is to be patient and stay healthy. Safety and health is the priority. We must do all that we can to protect our loved ones. Athletes have to adapt to these times and must show mental strength to overcome this crisis. There will be valuable training-time lost but athletes have to accept the situation and find ways to deal with it.

DSD: We read horrifying reports of the medical system collapsing, of doctors and healthcare workers too succumbing to the virus. As a citizen what was the ordeal like with everything descending into chaos.

Daniele Di Spigno: Yes, it was very difficult to conduct basic activities. Even when I went out to buy groceries, I wasn't sure how much distance to maintain from other people. What has happened until now has been truly terrible, but we have to overcome this crisis. We are gradually opening things up, the government has allowed athletes to train with certain restrictions. A shooter can now train with his or her coach. So these are positive developments. But we cannot change our approach towards the coronavirus just because things are opening up. As the government has said, we must still take the necessary precautions to fight the virus even when certain restrictions have been relaxed. Till we get a COVID-19 vaccine, there will be some element of risk out there, so we have to take care of ourselves.

<img alt="Daniele Di Spigno" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="91a48f44-e733-4fcb-a66d-12d072f3a93d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ffde9f3dca566a968820a49c6e47e62b_169_xl.jpg" />

DSD: Tourism has been Italy's go-to revenue generator and it does not look like resuming soon. Is the worst of the pandemic yet to come in terms of impact as livelihoods continue to get affected, the economy is already in recession. How tough is it financially on the people.

Daniele Di Spigno: The tourism industry in Italy has taken a big hit. There are many in the country who depend on tourism for their livelihood and they are struggling at the moment. I heard over 90 per cent of hotel bookings in the country have been cancelled during the crisis. The government is working on a plan which will open up the tourism industry to some extent. People could be allowed access to beaches if they maintain social distancing rules. Cafes and restaurants are huge revenue generators and the government is working on a plan to get them up and running again. So a lot of people in the tourism industry are at risk of losing their jobs.

There is some relief package that has been provided by the government but the amount is barely enough to cover for essential services. There needs to be a more concrete long term plan in place. Other industries have also been badly hit. For example, the barbershops can open from next month, but they can only allow one customer every two hours inside the premises. That means only 5-6 people will avail the services of the salon on a daily basis, which is not enough to sustain the business. On a personal note, I live in a seaside-town and am used to going to the beach every day. I have two sons and a daughter and they are also finding it very tough to deal with the crisis. My six-year-old daughter was crying yesterday because she hasn't been able to see any of her friends, we sometimes forget how strange it must be for the children to live in a period like this. We as adults are probably mentally trained to cope with a crisis like this but the children are not.

Constant interaction is also very important for a child's growth, so they are losing out on that aspect of life as well. Little kids thrive on outdoor activities and playing with their friends. So this crisis in a way is very unfair on them. I would also like to appeal to everyone to help out small business owners during the coronavirus. The big corporations and companies will survive, but the local store owners will struggle for finances without any assistance. So I appeal to those in a position of privilege to buy items from local stores rather than order products online from multinational corporations.

DSD: Let's shift tracks a little bit, how has Italian sport fared through this crisis?

Daniele Di Spigno: The athletes were in the last stages of their preparation for the Olympic games, but because of the postponement, athletes have to go back to the drawing board. In terms of shooting, I'm part of the Athletes' Committee of the ISSF and the body has decided to cancel all international events for the year. There might be some minor competitions which take place in a few months but they will not be part of Olympic qualifying. The entire shooting season has to be rescheduled because of the coronavirus. Once the season begins, a shooter has to start from scratch and regain fitness levels.

<img alt="Daniele Di Spigno" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fa5d6b8a-9c1d-4b40-916c-bb7c6c338b68" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Daniele-Di-Spigno-768x512.jpeg" />

DSD: You competed in four Olympic games and the Games have been postponed by a year. Will it be enough for athletes across the world to get back to their full peak considering training has been virtually non-existent for months now

Daniele Di Spigno: For shooters, it will maybe take 3-5 months to get back to peak performance levels. Which means if they start training now, they will probably be tournament-ready in October or November. But since the shooting season is over by that time, the athletes have nothing to prepare for. So I would advise the athletes not to panic. I think the shooters should treat this as the beginning of the season and practice drills they would usually do in January, like dry training. So I would advise the shooters to do minimal training and maintain their physical fitness. I have told my players to work on building their strength, because of the time available to them. Usually, during this time of the year shooters would work on other aspects of their game. But since there are no competitions scheduled they can work on improving their fundamentals.

DSD: You are from the sport of shooting which is mostly a mental sport. Mental anxiety and performance pressure is always there but currently is that what coaches and sports bodies should focus on, to talk to athletes and help them overcome this.

Daniele Di Spigno: Working without a target in mind is very hard. Any athlete needs a goal to work towards to be able to train in the best possible manner. Right now there is no clarity on the schedule so it is difficult for them. These times are unprecedented and mental toughness is crucial during this time. Shooters can use this time to work on their visualisation skills and physical fitness, but i understand it can be extremely tough to be productive. Since there is no end goal in mind, it is not possible for a coach to tell the athletes to work on a particular aspect of the game, because it is impossible to create a schedule for preparation. I have created a WhatsApp group with my shooters who are in India, but there is only so much I can help them with right now.

DSD: Japan says that the Olympics will get cancelled if the vaccine is not found. Till when do you think a decision has to be made and by when should international calendar resume for the Olympics to go ahead.

Daniele Di Spigno: The health and safety of the athletes and everyone involved in the Games have to be given top priority under any circumstance. For the Olympics to be held, the situation has to improve all over the world, not just in a few countries. The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world and athletes from every country congregate. I agree with japan when they say that if a proper solution to the problem is not found, then the games will not be held. There are thousands of people who live in an Olympic village during the games and I don't think it is possible to practice social distancing in that limited space. I hope a vaccine is ready so that we can have a full-fledged Olympics and return to normalcy.

<img alt="Daniele Di Spigno" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0baac564-9828-4b1e-8924-ad9357ba0d37" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Daniele-Di-Spigno.jpg" />

DSD: Word is that Serie A&nbsp;could resume soon. How important is it for sport to return and give people something to look forward to.

Daniele Di Spigno: I don't think the Serie A&nbsp;should resume in the current situation. In a contact sport like football, there are 22 players on the field and I think there are huge health risks involved. There are people who are asymptomatic but are testing positive for the coronavirus. I think the league authorities and clubs are catering to their financial interests in resuming the season because they realise that a lot of money is there to be made. I think they are putting money ahead of the health and safety of the athletes. Also, it will be very strange for the players to play in an empty stadium. Football is all about atmospherics and you take away the beauty of the sport when you play without supporters.

DSD: Final question, what for you are the lessons from this period of suffering?

Daniele Di Spigno: I have learnt to cherish the little things in life which we earlier took for granted. I realised I was too involved with my work and didn't spend enough time with my family. This time during the lockdown has been a real eye-opener for me. I have really enjoyed spending quality time with my children and will try to take out more time to do so once we return to our normal lives. Before this interview, I was helping out my son with math problems. We sometimes get caught up in the rat race and forget to take a step back and reflect. I hope we all learn to slow down a bit and cherish what is really important in our lives.

Two-time world champion and one of the legends of world shooting, Daniele De Spigno, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life under lockdown in Italy, affect of COVID-19 in the world of sports, proposal of resuming Serie A, form of Olympic hopeful shooters, postponement of Tokyo Olympics and much more.

Two-time world champion and one of the legends of world shooting, Daniele De Spigno, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life under lockdown in Italy, affect of COVID-19 in the world of sports, proposal of resuming Serie A, form of Olympic hopeful shooters, postponement of Tokyo Olympics and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Daniele, thanks for connecting with us. Life is slowly finding a way back in your country. How difficult have the last 2 months been? Daniele Di Spigno: The situation has been very grim here in Italy over the last couple of months. But now we see that some restrictions are being eased and we are trying to move towards some mode of 'normalcy'. DSD: The numbers are staggering Daniele.close to 30,000 official deaths in Italy and many more cases of people struggling with the coronavirus. As a society, this will be a difficult time to forget. Daniele Di Spigno: Absolutely. This crisis has been unprecedented, not just for Italy but the entire world. The economic effects of this lockdown have also been considerable and we are going to be facing tough times in the coming months as well. One of the things that struck me was the fact that people are not even able to hold funerals for their loved ones during the pandemic. It is horrible that people don't have the opportunity to say a final goodbye to their families and friends. The situation had become so bad in some cities in Italy that the army had to transport the dead bodies because the cemeteries had run out of places for bodies. DSD: Daniele, for you personally what was it like to live through this pandemic. You are a 4-time world champion and you have won multiple medals in shooting. As a sportsperson, you learn to deal with adversity over yours. Yet you must have been helpless through the last 2 months. Daniele Di Spigno: The advice that I gave to the shooters that I coach is to be patient and stay healthy. Safety and health is the priority. We must do all that we can to protect our loved ones. Athletes have to adapt to these times and must show mental strength to overcome this crisis. There will be valuable training-time lost but athletes have to accept the situation and find ways to deal with it. DSD: We read horrifying reports of the medical system collapsing, of doctors and healthcare workers too succumbing to the virus. As a citizen what was the ordeal like with everything descending into chaos. Daniele Di Spigno: Yes, it was very difficult to conduct basic activities. Even when I went out to buy groceries, I wasn't sure how much distance to maintain from other people. What has happened until now has been truly terrible, but we have to overcome this crisis. We are gradually opening things up, the government has allowed athletes to train with certain restrictions. A shooter can now train with his or her coach. So these are positive developments. But we cannot change our approach towards the coronavirus just because things are opening up. As the government has said, we must still take the necessary precautions to fight the virus even when certain restrictions have been relaxed. Till we get a COVID-19 vaccine, there will be some element of risk out there, so we have to take care of ourselves. DSD: Tourism has been Italy's go-to revenue generator and it does not look like resuming soon. Is the worst of the pandemic yet to come in terms of impact as livelihoods continue to get affected, the economy is already in recession. How tough is it financially on the people. Daniele Di Spigno: The tourism industry in Italy has taken a big hit. There are many in the country who depend on tourism for their livelihood and they are struggling at the moment. I heard over 90 per cent of hotel bookings in the country have been cancelled during the crisis. The government is working on a plan which will open up the tourism industry to some extent. People could be allowed access to beaches if they maintain social distancing rules. Cafes and restaurants are huge revenue generators and the government is working on a plan to get them up and running again. So a lot of people in the tourism industry are at risk of losing their jobs. There is some relief package that has been provided by the government but the amount is barely enough to cover for essential services. There needs to be a more concrete long term plan in place. Other industries have also been badly hit. For example, the barbershops can open from next month, but they can only allow one customer every two hours inside the premises. That means only 5-6 people will avail the services of the salon on a daily basis, which is not enough to sustain the business. On a personal note, I live in a seaside-town and am used to going to the beach every day. I have two sons and a daughter and they are also finding it very tough to deal with the crisis. My six-year-old daughter was crying yesterday because she hasn't been able to see any of her friends, we sometimes forget how strange it must be for the children to live in a period like this. We as adults are probably mentally trained to cope with a crisis like this but the children are not. Constant interaction is also very important for a child's growth, so they are losing out on that aspect of life as well. Little kids thrive on outdoor activities and playing with their friends. So this crisis in a way is very unfair on them. I would also like to appeal to everyone to help out small business owners during the coronavirus. The big corporations and companies will survive, but the local store owners will struggle for finances without any assistance. So I appeal to those in a position of privilege to buy items from local stores rather than order products online from multinational corporations. DSD: Let's shift tracks a little bit, how has Italian sport fared through this crisis? Daniele Di Spigno: The athletes were in the last stages of their preparation for the Olympic games, but because of the postponement, athletes have to go back to the drawing board. In terms of shooting, I'm part of the Athletes' Committee of the ISSF and the body has decided to cancel all international events for the year. There might be some minor competitions which take place in a few months but they will not be part of Olympic qualifying. The entire shooting season has to be rescheduled because of the coronavirus. Once the season begins, a shooter has to start from scratch and regain fitness levels. DSD: You competed in four Olympic games and the Games have been postponed by a year. Will it be enough for athletes across the world to get back to their full peak considering training has been virtually non-existent for months now Daniele Di Spigno: For shooters, it will maybe take 3-5 months to get back to peak performance levels. Which means if they start training now, they will probably be tournament-ready in October or November. But since the shooting season is over by that time, the athletes have nothing to prepare for. So I would advise the athletes not to panic. I think the shooters should treat this as the beginning of the season and practice drills they would usually do in January, like dry training. So I would advise the shooters to do minimal training and maintain their physical fitness. I have told my players to work on building their strength, because of the time available to them. Usually, during this time of the year shooters would work on other aspects of their game. But since there are no competitions scheduled they can work on improving their fundamentals. DSD: You are from the sport of shooting which is mostly a mental sport. Mental anxiety and performance pressure is always there but currently is that what coaches and sports bodies should focus on, to talk to athletes and help them overcome this. Daniele Di Spigno: Working without a target in mind is very hard. Any athlete needs a goal to work towards to be able to train in the best possible manner. Right now there is no clarity on the schedule so it is difficult for them. These times are unprecedented and mental toughness is crucial during this time. Shooters can use this time to work on their visualisation skills and physical fitness, but i understand it can be extremely tough to be productive. Since there is no end goal in mind, it is not possible for a coach to tell the athletes to work on a particular aspect of the game, because it is impossible to create a schedule for preparation. I have created a WhatsApp group with my shooters who are in India, but there is only so much I can help them with right now. DSD: Japan says that the Olympics will get cancelled if the vaccine is not found. Till when do you think a decision has to be made and by when should international calendar resume for the Olympics to go ahead. Daniele Di Spigno: The health and safety of the athletes and everyone involved in the Games have to be given top priority under any circumstance. For the Olympics to be held, the situation has to improve all over the world, not just in a few countries. The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world and athletes from every country congregate. I agree with japan when they say that if a proper solution to the problem is not found, then the games will not be held. There are thousands of people who live in an Olympic village during the games and I don't think it is possible to practice social distancing in that limited space. I hope a vaccine is ready so that we can have a full-fledged Olympics and return to normalcy. DSD: Word is that Serie A could resume soon. How important is it for sport to return and give people something to look forward to. Daniele Di Spigno: I don't think the Serie A should resume in the current situation. In a contact sport like football, there are 22 players on the field and I think there are huge health risks involved. There are people who are asymptomatic but are testing positive for the coronavirus. I think the league authorities and clubs are catering to their financial interests in resuming the season because they realise that a lot of money is there to be made. I think they are putting money ahead of the health and safety of the athletes. Also, it will be very strange for the players to play in an empty stadium. Football is all about atmospherics and you take away the beauty of the sport when you play without supporters. DSD: Final question, what for you are the lessons from this period of suffering? Daniele Di Spigno: I have learnt to cherish the little things in life which we earlier took for granted. I realised I was too involved with my work and didn't spend enough time with my family. This time during the lockdown has been a real eye-opener for me. I have really enjoyed spending quality time with my children and will try to take out more time to do so once we return to our normal lives. Before this interview, I was helping out my son with math problems. We sometimes get caught up in the rat race and forget to take a step back and reflect. I hope we all learn to slow down a bit and cherish what is really important in our lives.

Exclusive: "People can't even say final goodbye to their loved ones" - Daniele De Spigno opens on COVID-19 crisis in Italy and more

The CEO of Olympic Gold Quest and former Indian hockey captain, Viren Rasquinha, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor&nbsp;Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on Tokyo Olympics postponement, mental fatigue of athletes, international sporting calendar, proposal of quarantine camps for Olympic hopefuls, change of mentality of Indian athletes and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Hello Viren. Good to see you as always. How have you been?

Viren Rasquinha: I think life has been tough for everyone during this lockdown, but it's good to be able to talk to you after such a long time.

DSD: Mumbai has been hit pretty hard by the virus so obviously you have to take lots of precautions especially with a young daughter at home?

Viren Rasquinha: The main precaution everyone has to take is to remain indoors during the crisis. My five-year-old daughter loves being outdoors, so it's hard to get her to stay inside. It's a challenge for me to keep her busy with various activities, but it is something we all have to do.

DSD: I am not sure how many have seen Viren's Twitter feed but he had designed an obstacle course for his daughter which was really delightful to watch. A budding sportsperson then?

Viren Rasquinha: My wife and i have always maintained that we will support her in whatever she wants to pursue in life. I would love it if she becomes a sportsperson, but there is no pressure on her. However, she should participate in sport at her age as it teaches you a lot of life lessons and keeps you fit.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Keeping the little one busy with a home obstacle course <a href="https://t.co/Fhi2btQKHt">pic.twitter.com/Fhi2btQKHt</a>
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) <a href="https://twitter.com/virenrasquinha/status/1244155133585313792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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DSD: Okay, let us talk sport now and I’m going to hit you with the direct question. How badly has the Olympic postponement hit Indian sport? We don’t have a system like the USA or other superpowers, we focus on limited sports and that’s why I think we have been hit hard.

Viren Rasquinha: I would have definitely have preferred the Olympics to have been held on schedule in July 2020, but I realise that given the coronavirus crisis, postponing it was the right decision to make. It is tough for the athletes to mentally prepare for the games that are now almost 15 months away since they were almost done with their overall preparation for the 2020 games. So it is a challenge for them to mentally adjust the situation and re-calibrate. They will have to go back to the drawing board in terms of preparation.

Athletes train for two or three years for the Games and it is difficult for them to deal with such a sudden change. For Indian sportspersons, especially in individual sports like wrestling, shooting and boxing, many of our athletes were in very good form ahead of the 2020 games. But with this enforced break, their form and confidence will take a real hit. It is also going to be very hard to predict what will happen in July 2021.

DSD: You work with a lot of our Olympic hopefuls, how have they taken this in one on one conversations?

Viren Rasquinha: The athletes were in good shape for the 2020 games so it is tough for them to deal with the delay. You cannot underestimate the importance of form and confidence ahead of a major event like the Olympic games. But most athletes are very practical people and they have the ability to adapt very quickly. Most of them realise that the postponement was not just the right decision to make, but the only option available to the International Olympic Committee.

Once the athletes are able to mentally accept the decision, then they will be able to take the next step of preparing for the 2021 games.

DSD: I was speaking to PV Sindhu the other day and she says that there are two ways to approach this, one is pushing yourself for 15 more months and the other is to feel despondent...

Viren Rasquinha: I think the athletes will have to accept the decision which was taken for the greater good of humanity. Safety and health have to be our priority and the 2020 games would have endangered not only the athletes but also the coaches and the thousands involved in the event.

DSD: Will mental fatigue be an issue Viren if we have the Olympics in 2021?

Viren Rasquinha: There are so many variables in sport, mental fatigue will also come into play in 2021. Physical fitness is also key for any sportsperson, and losing so much training-time will have a long term effect on athletes. They will need at least 6 months to regain their peak fitness levels, especially in the more physically demanding sports like wrestling, boxing, &nbsp;badminton and hockey. Mental fatigue will definitely be a factor come the 2021 games, but the true champions and top athletes are always able to overcome such obstacles and challenges. It is what separates the best from the rest.

DSD: Abhinav Bindra told me a month back that it is the wiser and more experienced sportspersons who will adapt better to this. We have a lot of young first-time Olympic qualifiers. How do you keep them focused and carry them through this period of turmoil?

Viren Rasquinha: Apart from the young athletes, there are also many who are experienced and have already represented the country at the Olympics, like Mary Kom, Vinesh Phogat, Mirabai Chanu and PV Sindhu. Most of the shooters who have won a quota for India at the Olympics are very young and haven't competed at the Olympics, except for some like Sanjeev Rajput, Apurvi&nbsp;Chandela and Rahi Sarnobat. So these young athletes like Manu Bhaker and Sourabh Chaudhary need to be kept motivated and for that, they need the right guidance and mentoring. But I am confident that they will be helped through these times by the various federations. The sports authority of India will provide the athletes with the assistance they need. When I played, there was not as much knowledge about fitness, dietary habits and training as there is now. The athletes are also much more aware of how to take care of themselves.

DSD: I think there has also been a change in the mentality and belief of the Indian athletes, especially the shooters, we used to fear the world but it seems now the world fears us.

Viren Rasquinha: Absolutely. As a sports administrator for the last decade or so, the biggest change i have seen in indian athletes is the belief that they have. They believe that they can perform at the highest level and bring a medal home for their country. For that shift in mentality, we have to thank our senior athletes like Mary Kom, Gagan Narang, Saina Nehwal, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Vijender Singh. These athletes showed us the pathway to success. They won Olympic medals when the standard of the facilities available to them was not at the level we see now. Even PV Sindhu was inspired by Saina Nehwal. Nehwal broke the glass ceiling for women's badminton in India by her performances at major events. So that positive belief has been instilled into the Indian athletes.&nbsp;

When I went to the 2004 Athens Olympics with the Indian hockey team, I don't think we believed that we could win a medal. So half the battle was already lost before we even stepped on the pitch. But this generation has that confidence of going there and putting up a challenge.

<img alt="Exclusive | Viren Rasquinha in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3409d2c-67a1-4f63-a5a1-4af4e9480216" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/vIREN.jpg" />

DSD: Do you think this postponement will throw up very different Olympic medalists.15 months for someone who is over 30 could be tough. It will be a huge task for someone like our Mary Kom, &nbsp;or Roger Federer or shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce...

Viren Rasquinha: I actually do not think that there will be a completely unexpected set of medalists. I say this because when experienced campaigners like Mary Kom, Roger Federer and shelly ann Fraser Pryce put their minds towards achieving a goal, they usually succeed. They will ensure that they are in the best shape for the 2021 games. People were saying that the 2004 games would the last for Leander Paes, but he has gone on to play three more since and might participate in 2021 games as well. There were also question marks over Mary Kom's career after 2012, but here we are in 2020 and she is still going strong.

No one would have thought that Roger Federer would still be playing at the highest level at the age of 38. So there is something intangible that makes these names the greatest athletes in the world. There is a desire to prove a point and that is what drives them to work harder than everyone else. So, it is going to be hard to predict the medals but I don't think there will too many changes in the athletes who are going to the Olympics. I think the favourites for the 2020 games will still be challenging for the medals next year.

DSD: By when do you think the international calendar has to resume for the Olympics to happen Viren. Athletes can’t just sit at home and practice and go to Tokyo, they have to compete.

Viren Rasquinha: I think we have to accept the fact that international travel is not going to be possible in the next few months at least, in fact probably the whole year. That is why many sports, like athletics and archery, have cancelled their Olympic qualifiers for the remainder of the year. I think that is why most countries in the world need to be ready to organise domestic competitions and high- level national training camps. I don't think there will be any international competitions this year and there will be a drastic change in the world of sport because of the COVID-19 pandemic. International travel is one of the essentials of modern sport and it doesn't seem like that will be possible for the next year or so. Indian athletes have to accept that fact and be ready to train within the country.

DSD: Pullela Gopichand suggested that we should have a quarantine camp for Olympic hopefuls and now the IOA has suggested that as well. Have we missed a trick here already?

Viren Rasquinha: I definitely think all efforts should be made to organise quarantine camps, especially for those athletes who have already won Olympic quotas and have a high chance of challenging for Olympic medals. We can have a minimal number of coaches and support staff in these camps. It is important to get these camps up and running because we cannot afford to have a long gap in training in physically demanding sports. The more days these athletes don't train, the longer it will take them to regain their fitness levels. Having said that, there might be many logistical issues in organising these camps for the government and sports authorities. The health and safety of athletes comes first. But if the government and sports authorities can overcome these challenges and ensure a safe environment for all, then they should make every effort to organise quarantine camps for the top athletes.

<img alt="Exclusive | Viren Rasquinha in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9eedca82-b217-4dae-b1b8-af327abe4c33" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/viren-rasquinha-1437603160-800.jpg" />

DSD: I find it extremely ridiculous that we have had both our hockey teams in a quarantine camp yet they have not been allowed to train. Valuable time has been lost which could have helped them get a jump start over the rest of the countries who had no training. Now other countries are resuming training and we are still in Bengaluru twiddling our thumbs...

Viren Rasquinha: I think this is a medical issue, so the medical experts would be in a better position to explain to us a reason as to why the hockey players aren't being allowed to train. From the perspective of a former sportsperson and sports administrator, I would definitely want our elite athletes to be training at the moment and that is something that is happening in other parts of the world. I reiterate that no stone must be left unturned to ensure that athletes are able to start their training at the earliest, with the necessary health and safety precautions.

DSD: Also it’s not just athletes who have to adapt.organisations like yours. You may have backed a particular athlete but now 12 months later there maybe someone who is really in good nick. What do you do then?

Viren Rasquinha: I'd like to look at this as an opportunity for more athletes to make a mark, athletes who would otherwise have not been in contention to participate at the Tokyo Olympics if it was held on schedule. So now a bigger pool of athletes can win an Olympic quota for the 2021 games and increase the level of competition within the country. So hopefully that will ensure that the best Indian contingent travels to the games and puts up a show that we can all be proud of as Indians. At the international level, it is very rare that an athlete comes out of the blue and demands everyone's attention. By and large, the sports federations have been investing in all the Olympic hopefuls for a lengthy period of time, so they have a pretty good idea of who is in contention to make the games.

I think the only worry is whether the form of a particular individual will drop ahead of the 2021 games if the team is selected 7 or 8 months before the event. But I believe form is temporary, class is permanent. All federations should also ensure that they have a very transparent selection process. I would want them to announce the calendar for the trials and the method that they will be following. If the athletes know the schedule, they will have a goal in mind and that will help them give their absolute best. So, I think it is important to invest in a group of players and within that group, we must ensure that the most deserving or best athletes go to the Olympics.

DSD: Is it fair for federations to declare teams now for the Olympics. Simply on the point of mapping performance goals does it work. Should we not wait till 2021 march and see who stands where?

Viren Rasquinha: The selection process of our national federations have become much more transparent and professional in the last few years. We have to trust the federations to come up with the right selection method and calendar. I think as long as the criteria is fair, we just have to trust the process. I believe that one should not interfere in these matters. I always believe that if a particular athlete is good enough, then he or she will get selected in the team no matter what the circumstances. So the athletes must stay focused and not get affected by the speculation surrounding the dates and process of the trials.

<img alt="Viren Rasquinha" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="644a6200-c6ff-4291-8b1c-112038b8a3a7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/r4wn4itwmjcjxuzu5cjt.jpg" />

DSD: What will be the new normal in sport when this opens up,&nbsp;especially say team sports like hockey and football?

Viren Rasquinha: Absolutely, the whole world will be different post the COVID-19 pandemic and a lot is definitely going to change in sport as well. I think we'll see a shift to online and virtual training. Interaction between coaches, support staff and trainers has already been taking place online and that is bound to continue. That will especially be a huge change for the Indian athletes because they are used to personally-supervised training since their early days. Indian athletes have to start taking more responsibility and start planning their own schedules. They also have to implement those training programs and be more independent. I don't think we will have a situation now where the coach or the nutritionist is able to guide the athletes every step of the way. So the Indian athlete will have to adapt to the post-COVID-19 world.

DSD: I always like to end on an optimistic note, what is the first thing that you will do when the lockdown is over, maybe as a Liverpool fan you would love to celebrate the Reds winning the Premier League title.

Viren Rasquinha: Yes, I would love it if that happens. Us Liverpool fans have been waiting for 30 years for the league title and it will be heartbreaking if the Premier League trophy doesn't come to Anfield, given the team is so close to end that drought. But otherwise, I still love being outdoors and playing sports, so I'll play some badminton when this is all over. I'll take my family for dinner and just enjoy the simple things in life that we earlier took for granted. I'm going to cherish those moments much more after this crisis.

I love playing football with my daughter and she is also missing the game. She's driving me up the wall at home so it will be great to be able to take her outside for her football coaching. Going back to the Olympics, I'd like to say that anything is possible if we believe as a nation. It is even possible for us to get medals in double digits in the next Olympics. Also, I'd like to appeal to the government and federations to pay equal attention to the para-athletes who represent India. They must not be forgotten and we must support them in their quests as well. 
&nbsp;

<o:p></o:p>

The CEO of Olympic Gold Quest and former Indian hockey captain, Viren Rasquinha, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on Tokyo Olympics postponement, mental fatigue of athletes, international sporting calendar, proposal of quarantine camps for Olympic hopefuls, change of mentality of Indian athletes and much more.

The CEO of Olympic Gold Quest and former Indian hockey captain, Viren Rasquinha, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on Tokyo Olympics postponement, mental fatigue of athletes, international sporting calendar, proposal of quarantine camps for Olympic hopefuls, change of mentality of Indian athletes and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Hello Viren. Good to see you as always. How have you been? Viren Rasquinha: I think life has been tough for everyone during this lockdown, but it's good to be able to talk to you after such a long time. DSD: Mumbai has been hit pretty hard by the virus so obviously you have to take lots of precautions especially with a young daughter at home? Viren Rasquinha: The main precaution everyone has to take is to remain indoors during the crisis. My five-year-old daughter loves being outdoors, so it's hard to get her to stay inside. It's a challenge for me to keep her busy with various activities, but it is something we all have to do. DSD: I am not sure how many have seen Viren's Twitter feed but he had designed an obstacle course for his daughter which was really delightful to watch. A budding sportsperson then? Viren Rasquinha: My wife and i have always maintained that we will support her in whatever she wants to pursue in life. I would love it if she becomes a sportsperson, but there is no pressure on her. However, she should participate in sport at her age as it teaches you a lot of life lessons and keeps you fit. Keeping the little one busy with a home obstacle course pic.twitter.com/Fhi2btQKHt — Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) March 29, 2020 × DSD: Okay, let us talk sport now and I’m going to hit you with the direct question. How badly has the Olympic postponement hit Indian sport? We don’t have a system like the USA or other superpowers, we focus on limited sports and that’s why I think we have been hit hard. Viren Rasquinha: I would have definitely have preferred the Olympics to have been held on schedule in July 2020, but I realise that given the coronavirus crisis, postponing it was the right decision to make. It is tough for the athletes to mentally prepare for the games that are now almost 15 months away since they were almost done with their overall preparation for the 2020 games. So it is a challenge for them to mentally adjust the situation and re-calibrate. They will have to go back to the drawing board in terms of preparation. Athletes train for two or three years for the Games and it is difficult for them to deal with such a sudden change. For Indian sportspersons, especially in individual sports like wrestling, shooting and boxing, many of our athletes were in very good form ahead of the 2020 games. But with this enforced break, their form and confidence will take a real hit. It is also going to be very hard to predict what will happen in July 2021. DSD: You work with a lot of our Olympic hopefuls, how have they taken this in one on one conversations? Viren Rasquinha: The athletes were in good shape for the 2020 games so it is tough for them to deal with the delay. You cannot underestimate the importance of form and confidence ahead of a major event like the Olympic games. But most athletes are very practical people and they have the ability to adapt very quickly. Most of them realise that the postponement was not just the right decision to make, but the only option available to the International Olympic Committee. Once the athletes are able to mentally accept the decision, then they will be able to take the next step of preparing for the 2021 games. DSD: I was speaking to PV Sindhu the other day and she says that there are two ways to approach this, one is pushing yourself for 15 more months and the other is to feel despondent... Viren Rasquinha: I think the athletes will have to accept the decision which was taken for the greater good of humanity. Safety and health have to be our priority and the 2020 games would have endangered not only the athletes but also the coaches and the thousands involved in the event. DSD: Will mental fatigue be an issue Viren if we have the Olympics in 2021? Viren Rasquinha: There are so many variables in sport, mental fatigue will also come into play in 2021. Physical fitness is also key for any sportsperson, and losing so much training-time will have a long term effect on athletes. They will need at least 6 months to regain their peak fitness levels, especially in the more physically demanding sports like wrestling, boxing, badminton and hockey. Mental fatigue will definitely be a factor come the 2021 games, but the true champions and top athletes are always able to overcome such obstacles and challenges. It is what separates the best from the rest. DSD: Abhinav Bindra told me a month back that it is the wiser and more experienced sportspersons who will adapt better to this. We have a lot of young first-time Olympic qualifiers. How do you keep them focused and carry them through this period of turmoil? Viren Rasquinha: Apart from the young athletes, there are also many who are experienced and have already represented the country at the Olympics, like Mary Kom, Vinesh Phogat, Mirabai Chanu and PV Sindhu. Most of the shooters who have won a quota for India at the Olympics are very young and haven't competed at the Olympics, except for some like Sanjeev Rajput, Apurvi Chandela and Rahi Sarnobat. So these young athletes like Manu Bhaker and Sourabh Chaudhary need to be kept motivated and for that, they need the right guidance and mentoring. But I am confident that they will be helped through these times by the various federations. The sports authority of India will provide the athletes with the assistance they need. When I played, there was not as much knowledge about fitness, dietary habits and training as there is now. The athletes are also much more aware of how to take care of themselves. DSD: I think there has also been a change in the mentality and belief of the Indian athletes, especially the shooters, we used to fear the world but it seems now the world fears us. Viren Rasquinha: Absolutely. As a sports administrator for the last decade or so, the biggest change i have seen in indian athletes is the belief that they have. They believe that they can perform at the highest level and bring a medal home for their country. For that shift in mentality, we have to thank our senior athletes like Mary Kom, Gagan Narang, Saina Nehwal, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Vijender Singh. These athletes showed us the pathway to success. They won Olympic medals when the standard of the facilities available to them was not at the level we see now. Even PV Sindhu was inspired by Saina Nehwal. Nehwal broke the glass ceiling for women's badminton in India by her performances at major events. So that positive belief has been instilled into the Indian athletes. When I went to the 2004 Athens Olympics with the Indian hockey team, I don't think we believed that we could win a medal. So half the battle was already lost before we even stepped on the pitch. But this generation has that confidence of going there and putting up a challenge. DSD: Do you think this postponement will throw up very different Olympic medalists.15 months for someone who is over 30 could be tough. It will be a huge task for someone like our Mary Kom, or Roger Federer or shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce... Viren Rasquinha: I actually do not think that there will be a completely unexpected set of medalists. I say this because when experienced campaigners like Mary Kom, Roger Federer and shelly ann Fraser Pryce put their minds towards achieving a goal, they usually succeed. They will ensure that they are in the best shape for the 2021 games. People were saying that the 2004 games would the last for Leander Paes, but he has gone on to play three more since and might participate in 2021 games as well. There were also question marks over Mary Kom's career after 2012, but here we are in 2020 and she is still going strong. No one would have thought that Roger Federer would still be playing at the highest level at the age of 38. So there is something intangible that makes these names the greatest athletes in the world. There is a desire to prove a point and that is what drives them to work harder than everyone else. So, it is going to be hard to predict the medals but I don't think there will too many changes in the athletes who are going to the Olympics. I think the favourites for the 2020 games will still be challenging for the medals next year. DSD: By when do you think the international calendar has to resume for the Olympics to happen Viren. Athletes can’t just sit at home and practice and go to Tokyo, they have to compete. Viren Rasquinha: I think we have to accept the fact that international travel is not going to be possible in the next few months at least, in fact probably the whole year. That is why many sports, like athletics and archery, have cancelled their Olympic qualifiers for the remainder of the year. I think that is why most countries in the world need to be ready to organise domestic competitions and high- level national training camps. I don't think there will be any international competitions this year and there will be a drastic change in the world of sport because of the COVID-19 pandemic. International travel is one of the essentials of modern sport and it doesn't seem like that will be possible for the next year or so. Indian athletes have to accept that fact and be ready to train within the country. DSD: Pullela Gopichand suggested that we should have a quarantine camp for Olympic hopefuls and now the IOA has suggested that as well. Have we missed a trick here already? Viren Rasquinha: I definitely think all efforts should be made to organise quarantine camps, especially for those athletes who have already won Olympic quotas and have a high chance of challenging for Olympic medals. We can have a minimal number of coaches and support staff in these camps. It is important to get these camps up and running because we cannot afford to have a long gap in training in physically demanding sports. The more days these athletes don't train, the longer it will take them to regain their fitness levels. Having said that, there might be many logistical issues in organising these camps for the government and sports authorities. The health and safety of athletes comes first. But if the government and sports authorities can overcome these challenges and ensure a safe environment for all, then they should make every effort to organise quarantine camps for the top athletes. DSD: I find it extremely ridiculous that we have had both our hockey teams in a quarantine camp yet they have not been allowed to train. Valuable time has been lost which could have helped them get a jump start over the rest of the countries who had no training. Now other countries are resuming training and we are still in Bengaluru twiddling our thumbs... Viren Rasquinha: I think this is a medical issue, so the medical experts would be in a better position to explain to us a reason as to why the hockey players aren't being allowed to train. From the perspective of a former sportsperson and sports administrator, I would definitely want our elite athletes to be training at the moment and that is something that is happening in other parts of the world. I reiterate that no stone must be left unturned to ensure that athletes are able to start their training at the earliest, with the necessary health and safety precautions. DSD: Also it’s not just athletes who have to adapt.organisations like yours. You may have backed a particular athlete but now 12 months later there maybe someone who is really in good nick. What do you do then? Viren Rasquinha: I'd like to look at this as an opportunity for more athletes to make a mark, athletes who would otherwise have not been in contention to participate at the Tokyo Olympics if it was held on schedule. So now a bigger pool of athletes can win an Olympic quota for the 2021 games and increase the level of competition within the country. So hopefully that will ensure that the best Indian contingent travels to the games and puts up a show that we can all be proud of as Indians. At the international level, it is very rare that an athlete comes out of the blue and demands everyone's attention. By and large, the sports federations have been investing in all the Olympic hopefuls for a lengthy period of time, so they have a pretty good idea of who is in contention to make the games. I think the only worry is whether the form of a particular individual will drop ahead of the 2021 games if the team is selected 7 or 8 months before the event. But I believe form is temporary, class is permanent. All federations should also ensure that they have a very transparent selection process. I would want them to announce the calendar for the trials and the method that they will be following. If the athletes know the schedule, they will have a goal in mind and that will help them give their absolute best. So, I think it is important to invest in a group of players and within that group, we must ensure that the most deserving or best athletes go to the Olympics. DSD: Is it fair for federations to declare teams now for the Olympics. Simply on the point of mapping performance goals does it work. Should we not wait till 2021 march and see who stands where? Viren Rasquinha: The selection process of our national federations have become much more transparent and professional in the last few years. We have to trust the federations to come up with the right selection method and calendar. I think as long as the criteria is fair, we just have to trust the process. I believe that one should not interfere in these matters. I always believe that if a particular athlete is good enough, then he or she will get selected in the team no matter what the circumstances. So the athletes must stay focused and not get affected by the speculation surrounding the dates and process of the trials. DSD: What will be the new normal in sport when this opens up, especially say team sports like hockey and football? Viren Rasquinha: Absolutely, the whole world will be different post the COVID-19 pandemic and a lot is definitely going to change in sport as well. I think we'll see a shift to online and virtual training. Interaction between coaches, support staff and trainers has already been taking place online and that is bound to continue. That will especially be a huge change for the Indian athletes because they are used to personally-supervised training since their early days. Indian athletes have to start taking more responsibility and start planning their own schedules. They also have to implement those training programs and be more independent. I don't think we will have a situation now where the coach or the nutritionist is able to guide the athletes every step of the way. So the Indian athlete will have to adapt to the post-COVID-19 world. DSD: I always like to end on an optimistic note, what is the first thing that you will do when the lockdown is over, maybe as a Liverpool fan you would love to celebrate the Reds winning the Premier League title. Viren Rasquinha: Yes, I would love it if that happens. Us Liverpool fans have been waiting for 30 years for the league title and it will be heartbreaking if the Premier League trophy doesn't come to Anfield, given the team is so close to end that drought. But otherwise, I still love being outdoors and playing sports, so I'll play some badminton when this is all over. I'll take my family for dinner and just enjoy the simple things in life that we earlier took for granted. I'm going to cherish those moments much more after this crisis. I love playing football with my daughter and she is also missing the game. She's driving me up the wall at home so it will be great to be able to take her outside for her football coaching. Going back to the Olympics, I'd like to say that anything is possible if we believe as a nation. It is even possible for us to get medals in double digits in the next Olympics. Also, I'd like to appeal to the government and federations to pay equal attention to the para-athletes who represent India. They must not be forgotten and we must support them in their quests as well.

Exclusive: "Athletes must start training at the earliest, can't afford to have long gap" - Olympic Gold Quest CEO Viren Rasquinha

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Digvijay Singh Deo

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