After the massive success of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, women’s cricket in India was looking at an unprecedented rise in popularity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the entire sporting calendar. Sportspersons, coaches, support staff, everyone have been restricted to train and work indoors with uncertainty looming large over the resumption of sporting action.&nbsp;

Indian women team’s head coach, WV Raman, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of topics ranging from the importance of team bonding, life in lockdown, the emergence of talented youngsters, India’s journey in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Women’s IPL and much more... &nbsp;&nbsp;

Digvijay Singh Deo: Raman, thanks for joining us. It was just over a month ago that India were in that iconic final at the MCG - but it feels much longer doesn't it with everything that has happened since then with reference to the coronavirus...

WV&nbsp;Raman:&nbsp;Yes, it does seem like a very long time ago, almost a different world. The girls had a great run till the final of the ICC World T20 and played some great cricket. But since then life has taken a turn for the worse.even while we were in Australia in early March, there were indications about the threat of the coronavirus. At that time, we were beginning to realise the problems it could pose. But since then it has become a pandemic and made life extremely difficult for people across the world.

Every day is a challenge. But this situation also gives us a chance to reflect on the things which we took for granted.this is the time for humanity to show resilience. Mankind has to collectively fight this pandemic, while still being in isolation, to prevail over it.

DSD:&nbsp;What has the lockdown been like for you? As a coach, I presume you are the kind of person used to interacting with a fair number of people on a daily basis - is this almost a welcome break?

WV&nbsp;Raman: I am no different from any other individual, everyone is going through the same fear and anxiety. But at the same time, all of us are also trying to stay positive in these difficult times. If life would have been normal, then we might have organised a couple of camps for the girls to work on their fitness and training. But obviously that is not possible. The thing we need to focus on now is getting back to normalcy as soon as possible. All of us are in this together and we need to keep our spirits up and just hope for the best, let's hope there isn't a great spike in the number of cases in the near future. So hopefully we will overcome this crisis and all of us will get back to leading our normal lives.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-sports-industry-will-take-long-time-to-return-to-normalcy-sania-mirza-reflects-on-lockdown-situation-cancellation-of-tournaments-and-much-more-292303" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Sports industry will take long time to return to normalcy' - Sania Mirza reflects on lockdown situation, cancellation of tournaments and much more</a>

DSD: A&nbsp;seasoned veteran like yourself might find it easier to deal with this virus state of existence than perhaps a very young team that you are in charge of... I'm sure you are in touch with them - how are they coping?

WV&nbsp;Raman: Yes I'm sure it will be a challenge for them. But I know all of them are very social media savvy, so they are keeping in touch and trying to raise the spirits of each other. At this time. You need to show creativity in the way you interact with other people as well because it has been more than three weeks since the lockdown and everyone's patience is also being tested. The girls need to ensure that they don't get on each others' nerves. It is an interesting phase and there are many important lessons we can learn from this crisis. I remember when I was playing league cricket in England back in the 80s, we used to have just one game on the weekend, so throughout the week, we had to find a way to stay occupied and do something worthwhile.

The problem back then was that we didn't have the option of using social media. But this generation has an advantage because that opens up a lot of avenues which allow people to spend time in a constructive manner. Can you just imagine what this lockdown would have been like without any social media or the internet?

<img alt="WV Raman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="41241ece-bef5-416c-9098-0a818372e23c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1PO4W3.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;I just read Smriti Mandana saying that the girls are playing ludo online with each other to keep up the team bond... Do you approve of this lockdown-era team bonding exercise?

WV&nbsp;Raman: I think it is good for team spirit and it is a fun activity to do during the lockdown. Games like ludo and monopoly can also give you life lessons as well. Playing monopoly can help you in the long run in managing finances.

DSD: There is, of course, a lot of uncertainty around the cricket calendar right now - all the women cricketers were looking forward to playing in the T20 Challenge alongside the IPL playoffs at this time of the year... But that isn't happening and the tour of England in June is also doubtful... What do you get your players to focus on to try and keep the motivation and fitness in such a scenario?

WV&nbsp;Raman: There are two ways to look at it. One perspective is that they have a lot of spare time now, which means they can do various physical activities even though their movement is restricted. They don't have training equipment nor the company of their team-mates, which takes the stress out of an intense training session. But there are other basic things they can do to keep themselves in shape. They will miss out on the technical aspect of training, but we cannot do anything about it.

The top priority right now is for everyone in the world to stay healthy.there are many, like our migrant workers, who are going through tremendous anxiety on a daily basis because they don't know what the future holds for them. I don't think we should be focussing on the sport right now, the priority is overcoming this crisis. Once we have achieved that, then we can discuss the next step.

DSD:&nbsp;You've had a bit of time now to let the World Cup really sink in - the final didn't quite go the way that India wanted - but you must be proud of such a young side - just 22 years old on average - marched into that title clash.

WV&nbsp;Raman:&nbsp;Yes definitely, lots of players in the team said after the tournament that the performance was a confidence boost for them in terms of t20 international cricket, since they were sure of their abilities in the 50 over game, but not so much in T20 cricket. The performances in the triangular series and the World Cup in Australia were fantastic. It was great that a team that wasn't sure of their abilities in the format played such great cricket. The young side showed great maturity in the tournament. It was very satisfying for me as a coach since most of the games were hard-fought victories. So the girls stood up to all the challenges that were thrown at them. Unfortunately, on the big day, things didn't go our way but that can happen to the best of teams as well. On the whole, it was a campaign to be proud of and given the fans back home a lot of hope for the future of the women's game in the country.

Most importantly, I think the cricket fraternity would have realised that we as a team can compete at the highest level. I think moving forward, it's important that we do not repeat those mistakes and learn from them.

<img alt="WV Raman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dd9d803f-42ea-4f86-b7ad-bf36e0131675" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1PO4WO.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;You said in an interview a few days after the final that the semi-final against England being washed out had a negative impact on the team and the momentum that had been built up... Can you talk us through how that was playing out in the dressing room, behind the scenes in the buildup to the final - and how you and the team look at that final now?

WV&nbsp;Raman: I don't want anyone to think that my statement was an excuse for our performance in the final. But the fact is that if a team doesn't play in the days leading up to a big match, it is going to be a major challenge, especially for such a young side like ours. The reason I say that is because it is only with experience that you are able to switch on mentally to gear up for a big match like a World Cup semi-final or final. The ability of players to be mentally ready for a big match increases with experience.

There was rain almost every day in Australia in the days before the final, so we only had one nets session to prepare in those few days. And then suddenly, the girls were playing the world cup final in front of 80,000 people at the m.c.g. That experience certainly would have been great for the girls, but mentally I don't think they were totally ready for that clash from the first ball. You can't hold it against them or blame them, that preparedness only comes with experience. Then of course in a t20 game, if the first 30-40 minutes don't go your way it' very difficult to bounce back and that's what happened in the final.

DSD: The big headline from India's world cup campaign was that all those wins came without Smriti and Harman having to carry the batting unit... Everybody played their part...

WV&nbsp;Raman: Yes, that was a mental block that people needed to get out of their system. There was a myth that we could only win if our star players- Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur- performed. So it was great to see other girls chipping in and contributing. You are more likely to succeed when the team plays as a unit. It was unfortunate for Smriti and Harmanpreet to not put up the numbers they were expected to, but this can happen in any tournament.

It is impossible for the big players to score big runs in every single game, even the best of players have their off days and that's what makes cricket such an interesting game.

<img alt="WV Raman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a6a29f35-eb43-4d9a-8774-d0943ab20380" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1PO4XE.jpg" />

DSD: The tournament also thrust into the spotlight the young Shafali Verma - India's highest run-getter, raw power-hitting at just 16 years of age that had all the pundits and former players singing her praises... It's a lot to process for such a young player, isn't it?

WV&nbsp;Raman:&nbsp;She took the world by storm. Everyone was eager to watch her play before the world cup because of her age. There were many who were curious to see what she brought to the team, that too in a major competition like the world cup. Her fearless batting throughout the tournament has won her many admirers and a lot of people are predicting great things for her in the future. But there is a school of thought which believes that she cannot continue to play the same way she has played in the long run and hope to succeed.

But that is not the correct approach to take towards her batting. Her talent is there for everyone and she is intelligent, she knows what aspects of her game she needs to work on and hopefully, she will continue to perform well. There were lots of people in the game who doubted Virender Sehwag as well. They reckoned that Sehwag wasn't a test match batsman because he was unconventional. But he went on to prove all his doubters wrong and went on to have a great test career, scoring runs in every country at a phenomenal strike rate. 
So there is no need to over-analyse Verma's game, she needs to keep her head down and continue to work.

DSD: We heard Harmanpreet say after the World Cup that India is around 5 years behind England and Australia in terms of big tournament experience... But because this team is so young, is this largely the group that you hope will take the next step?

WV&nbsp;Raman: Experience is crucial in building a world-class side. For example, the Australian team that won the world cup had played together in 2 or 3 finals before the T20 World Cup this year. One way the team can gain more experience is by playing together for a long period of time. I see that happening with the current crop of players, most of them are young and they have shown that they also have the temperament to deal with the pressures of playing at the highest level.

Because most of the players I have are young, if they are able to play together for the next 2-3 years, I see them becoming as dominant as the Australian side we see right now.i would say the possibility of this team playing together for the next 7-8 years is very high.

DSD: You have said that you are trying to build a team that can dominate world cricket for a few years - one aspect of that is to keep the talent coming in.. Are you also working with the BCCI on how to expand the pool - and the larger eco-system of the women's game?

WV&nbsp;Raman:&nbsp;The beauty in a huge country like India is that you are always told about emerging talents from various state associations.we have programs in place that to guide and nurture the talent of these young cricketers. A whole structure is being created for these girls to come through the ranks.

The under 19 world cup will begin next year and we already have tournaments like the emerging Asia Cup, this has given a lot of young girls the impetus to take up the sport. Earlier what used to happen was that whosoever did well in the under 19 domestic competition, would get selected for the senior team. So overnight there was a major jump in the level of cricket that player was competing in .they were expected to find a recipe for success at the international level with very little experience. But that will hopefully change now, we are seeing India 'A' teams going on tours and playing regular matches.

The structure we are trying to create will ensure that players who come into the senior team are not overawed by the level of cricket at the international level. We are trying to implement the stricture that the men's team have, where a player has already played about 6-7 years of competitive cricket before breaking into the senior team. This makes the players battle-hardened and better prepared to deal with the demands of the international game.

<img alt="Indian women's team" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1275c31d-c12c-41df-b0d5-b65d44792f47" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1PP37Y.jpg" />

DSD: There were many calls for a Women's IPL in and around the World Cup.&nbsp;Do you think there is enough talent around to create a competitive and full-fledged tournament?

WV&nbsp;Raman: The idea of the Women's IPL needs to be deliberated upon, we have to clear about what the objectives the tournaments are. The other concern is that if we invite a lot of foreigners in a team in the first edition of the IPL, it is going to be difficult to change that precedent over a period of time. I think the BCCI will make the correct call on the timing and establishment of the Women's Indian Premier League. At the moment we just have to be patient and not jump the gun.

DSD: The focus now shifts to the 50-over format now and next year's World Cup in New Zealand... You have a bit more experience with Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami coming in - how will that affect your preparations?

WV&nbsp;Raman: We'll have to see when things get back to normal. We'll also have to see where India is placed in the qualification scenario, there is the possibility of playing world cup qualifiers, but we don't know that yet.let's allow things to unfold and the situation to improve and then we will work on the future of the team.&nbsp;

After the massive success of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, women’s cricket in India was looking at an unprecedented rise in popularity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the entire sporting calendar.

After the massive success of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, women’s cricket in India was looking at an unprecedented rise in popularity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the entire sporting calendar. Sportspersons, coaches, support staff, everyone have been restricted to train and work indoors with uncertainty looming large over the resumption of sporting action. Indian women team’s head coach, WV Raman, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of topics ranging from the importance of team bonding, life in lockdown, the emergence of talented youngsters, India’s journey in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Women’s IPL and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Raman, thanks for joining us. It was just over a month ago that India were in that iconic final at the MCG - but it feels much longer doesn't it with everything that has happened since then with reference to the coronavirus... WV Raman: Yes, it does seem like a very long time ago, almost a different world. The girls had a great run till the final of the ICC World T20 and played some great cricket. But since then life has taken a turn for the worse.even while we were in Australia in early March, there were indications about the threat of the coronavirus. At that time, we were beginning to realise the problems it could pose. But since then it has become a pandemic and made life extremely difficult for people across the world. Every day is a challenge. But this situation also gives us a chance to reflect on the things which we took for granted.this is the time for humanity to show resilience. Mankind has to collectively fight this pandemic, while still being in isolation, to prevail over it. DSD: What has the lockdown been like for you? As a coach, I presume you are the kind of person used to interacting with a fair number of people on a daily basis - is this almost a welcome break? WV Raman: I am no different from any other individual, everyone is going through the same fear and anxiety. But at the same time, all of us are also trying to stay positive in these difficult times. If life would have been normal, then we might have organised a couple of camps for the girls to work on their fitness and training. But obviously that is not possible. The thing we need to focus on now is getting back to normalcy as soon as possible. All of us are in this together and we need to keep our spirits up and just hope for the best, let's hope there isn't a great spike in the number of cases in the near future. So hopefully we will overcome this crisis and all of us will get back to leading our normal lives. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Sports industry will take long time to return to normalcy' - Sania Mirza reflects on lockdown situation, cancellation of tournaments and much more DSD: A seasoned veteran like yourself might find it easier to deal with this virus state of existence than perhaps a very young team that you are in charge of... I'm sure you are in touch with them - how are they coping? WV Raman: Yes I'm sure it will be a challenge for them. But I know all of them are very social media savvy, so they are keeping in touch and trying to raise the spirits of each other. At this time. You need to show creativity in the way you interact with other people as well because it has been more than three weeks since the lockdown and everyone's patience is also being tested. The girls need to ensure that they don't get on each others' nerves. It is an interesting phase and there are many important lessons we can learn from this crisis. I remember when I was playing league cricket in England back in the 80s, we used to have just one game on the weekend, so throughout the week, we had to find a way to stay occupied and do something worthwhile. The problem back then was that we didn't have the option of using social media. But this generation has an advantage because that opens up a lot of avenues which allow people to spend time in a constructive manner. Can you just imagine what this lockdown would have been like without any social media or the internet? DSD: I just read Smriti Mandana saying that the girls are playing ludo online with each other to keep up the team bond... Do you approve of this lockdown-era team bonding exercise? WV Raman: I think it is good for team spirit and it is a fun activity to do during the lockdown. Games like ludo and monopoly can also give you life lessons as well. Playing monopoly can help you in the long run in managing finances. DSD: There is, of course, a lot of uncertainty around the cricket calendar right now - all the women cricketers were looking forward to playing in the T20 Challenge alongside the IPL playoffs at this time of the year... But that isn't happening and the tour of England in June is also doubtful... What do you get your players to focus on to try and keep the motivation and fitness in such a scenario? WV Raman: There are two ways to look at it. One perspective is that they have a lot of spare time now, which means they can do various physical activities even though their movement is restricted. They don't have training equipment nor the company of their team-mates, which takes the stress out of an intense training session. But there are other basic things they can do to keep themselves in shape. They will miss out on the technical aspect of training, but we cannot do anything about it. The top priority right now is for everyone in the world to stay healthy.there are many, like our migrant workers, who are going through tremendous anxiety on a daily basis because they don't know what the future holds for them. I don't think we should be focussing on the sport right now, the priority is overcoming this crisis. Once we have achieved that, then we can discuss the next step. DSD: You've had a bit of time now to let the World Cup really sink in - the final didn't quite go the way that India wanted - but you must be proud of such a young side - just 22 years old on average - marched into that title clash. WV Raman: Yes definitely, lots of players in the team said after the tournament that the performance was a confidence boost for them in terms of t20 international cricket, since they were sure of their abilities in the 50 over game, but not so much in T20 cricket. The performances in the triangular series and the World Cup in Australia were fantastic. It was great that a team that wasn't sure of their abilities in the format played such great cricket. The young side showed great maturity in the tournament. It was very satisfying for me as a coach since most of the games were hard-fought victories. So the girls stood up to all the challenges that were thrown at them. Unfortunately, on the big day, things didn't go our way but that can happen to the best of teams as well. On the whole, it was a campaign to be proud of and given the fans back home a lot of hope for the future of the women's game in the country. Most importantly, I think the cricket fraternity would have realised that we as a team can compete at the highest level. I think moving forward, it's important that we do not repeat those mistakes and learn from them. DSD: You said in an interview a few days after the final that the semi-final against England being washed out had a negative impact on the team and the momentum that had been built up... Can you talk us through how that was playing out in the dressing room, behind the scenes in the buildup to the final - and how you and the team look at that final now? WV Raman: I don't want anyone to think that my statement was an excuse for our performance in the final. But the fact is that if a team doesn't play in the days leading up to a big match, it is going to be a major challenge, especially for such a young side like ours. The reason I say that is because it is only with experience that you are able to switch on mentally to gear up for a big match like a World Cup semi-final or final. The ability of players to be mentally ready for a big match increases with experience. There was rain almost every day in Australia in the days before the final, so we only had one nets session to prepare in those few days. And then suddenly, the girls were playing the world cup final in front of 80,000 people at the m.c.g. That experience certainly would have been great for the girls, but mentally I don't think they were totally ready for that clash from the first ball. You can't hold it against them or blame them, that preparedness only comes with experience. Then of course in a t20 game, if the first 30-40 minutes don't go your way it' very difficult to bounce back and that's what happened in the final. DSD: The big headline from India's world cup campaign was that all those wins came without Smriti and Harman having to carry the batting unit... Everybody played their part... WV Raman: Yes, that was a mental block that people needed to get out of their system. There was a myth that we could only win if our star players- Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur- performed. So it was great to see other girls chipping in and contributing. You are more likely to succeed when the team plays as a unit. It was unfortunate for Smriti and Harmanpreet to not put up the numbers they were expected to, but this can happen in any tournament. It is impossible for the big players to score big runs in every single game, even the best of players have their off days and that's what makes cricket such an interesting game. DSD: The tournament also thrust into the spotlight the young Shafali Verma - India's highest run-getter, raw power-hitting at just 16 years of age that had all the pundits and former players singing her praises... It's a lot to process for such a young player, isn't it? WV Raman: She took the world by storm. Everyone was eager to watch her play before the world cup because of her age. There were many who were curious to see what she brought to the team, that too in a major competition like the world cup. Her fearless batting throughout the tournament has won her many admirers and a lot of people are predicting great things for her in the future. But there is a school of thought which believes that she cannot continue to play the same way she has played in the long run and hope to succeed. But that is not the correct approach to take towards her batting. Her talent is there for everyone and she is intelligent, she knows what aspects of her game she needs to work on and hopefully, she will continue to perform well. There were lots of people in the game who doubted Virender Sehwag as well. They reckoned that Sehwag wasn't a test match batsman because he was unconventional. But he went on to prove all his doubters wrong and went on to have a great test career, scoring runs in every country at a phenomenal strike rate. So there is no need to over-analyse Verma's game, she needs to keep her head down and continue to work. DSD: We heard Harmanpreet say after the World Cup that India is around 5 years behind England and Australia in terms of big tournament experience... But because this team is so young, is this largely the group that you hope will take the next step? WV Raman: Experience is crucial in building a world-class side. For example, the Australian team that won the world cup had played together in 2 or 3 finals before the T20 World Cup this year. One way the team can gain more experience is by playing together for a long period of time. I see that happening with the current crop of players, most of them are young and they have shown that they also have the temperament to deal with the pressures of playing at the highest level. Because most of the players I have are young, if they are able to play together for the next 2-3 years, I see them becoming as dominant as the Australian side we see right now.i would say the possibility of this team playing together for the next 7-8 years is very high. DSD: You have said that you are trying to build a team that can dominate world cricket for a few years - one aspect of that is to keep the talent coming in.. Are you also working with the BCCI on how to expand the pool - and the larger eco-system of the women's game? WV Raman: The beauty in a huge country like India is that you are always told about emerging talents from various state associations.we have programs in place that to guide and nurture the talent of these young cricketers. A whole structure is being created for these girls to come through the ranks. The under 19 world cup will begin next year and we already have tournaments like the emerging Asia Cup, this has given a lot of young girls the impetus to take up the sport. Earlier what used to happen was that whosoever did well in the under 19 domestic competition, would get selected for the senior team. So overnight there was a major jump in the level of cricket that player was competing in .they were expected to find a recipe for success at the international level with very little experience. But that will hopefully change now, we are seeing India 'A' teams going on tours and playing regular matches. The structure we are trying to create will ensure that players who come into the senior team are not overawed by the level of cricket at the international level. We are trying to implement the stricture that the men's team have, where a player has already played about 6-7 years of competitive cricket before breaking into the senior team. This makes the players battle-hardened and better prepared to deal with the demands of the international game. DSD: There were many calls for a Women's IPL in and around the World Cup. Do you think there is enough talent around to create a competitive and full-fledged tournament? WV Raman: The idea of the Women's IPL needs to be deliberated upon, we have to clear about what the objectives the tournaments are. The other concern is that if we invite a lot of foreigners in a team in the first edition of the IPL, it is going to be difficult to change that precedent over a period of time. I think the BCCI will make the correct call on the timing and establishment of the Women's Indian Premier League. At the moment we just have to be patient and not jump the gun. DSD: The focus now shifts to the 50-over format now and next year's World Cup in New Zealand... You have a bit more experience with Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami coming in - how will that affect your preparations? WV Raman: We'll have to see when things get back to normal. We'll also have to see where India is placed in the qualification scenario, there is the possibility of playing world cup qualifiers, but we don't know that yet.let's allow things to unfold and the situation to improve and then we will work on the future of the team.

Exclusive: 'Idea of the Women's IPL needs to be deliberated upon' - WV Raman on future of the sport, coaching in lockdown, T20 WC and more

<span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:
Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in;background:white">With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc, the sporting calendar has come to an unprecedented halt. Almost every sporting events and tournaments have been either cancelled or postponed with no uncertainty as to when the action will resume. Tennis is one of the sports to be affected most by the pandemic with tournaments like Wimbledon, French Open, Indian Wells, Rogers Cup, among others being rescheduled or completely called off due to the dreaded COVID-19.&nbsp;

<span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:
Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in;background:white">Ace Indian tennis star, Khel Ratna awardee, former world number one and six time Grand Slam champion, Sania Mirza, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from how she is dealing with the current lockdown, cancellation of sporting events, charity work at ground zero, how is she preparing for the resumption of season, and much more...

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Digvijay Singh Deo: Sania, it has been almost 3 weeks now since the lockdown began, how have you been?

Sania Mirza: I have been good and been taking care of my health, which is the most important thing. I returned from the USA about a month back, just before the lockdown started. I have actually been in lockdown for more than 3 weeks since I was self-isolating when I came to India. The nationwide lockdown began in the middle of my scheduled 2-week self-isolation. So I've been in the house for over a month now.

DSD: First up, I&nbsp;must say that thanks to your father we get to know all the important dates and yesterday was your 10th wedding anniversary and also the 5th anniversary of you becoming world number one!

Sania Mirza: Somehow 12th of April seems to be a very important day in my life. Celebrating my anniversary is a bit difficult because my husband, Shoaib Malik, is in Pakistan and I am in Hyderabad. He was playing the Pakistan Super League when the lockdown began, so he had to rush back to his home in Pakistan. Now, we are not sure when we'll be able to see each other again or go back to Dubai.

My son, Izhaan, is really missing his father. But having said that 10 years is a major milestone in a marriage and it seems like it was only yesterday when I got married, which I guess is a good thing. A high profile marriage brings its share of difficulties, but I have no complaints so far and I'm very grateful for that. We've had a long run and we're looking forward to spending many more years together.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-it-is-time-to-introspect-pankaj-advani-opens-up-on-covid-19-situation-lockdown-sporting-calendar-and-more-291385" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'It is time to introspect' - Pankaj Advani opens up on COVID-19 situation, lockdown, sporting calendar and more</a>

<img alt="Exclusive | Sania Mirza in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="19777ed1-271f-4af7-92c8-85468f30b546" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_P72X7.jpg" />

DSD: You are blessed to have family around in these items.again thanks to your father I have sort of glimpsed what is going on in the house, so table tennis matches and also jigsaw puzzle attempts.

Sania Mirza: I think the lockdown has helped people get a new perspective on their lives. For me, getting back to the tennis court and competing again was such a priority, but now I just want my family to be healthy. I'm grateful that I'm getting to spend so much time with my family. Since there is a lockdown, you do need some activity to pass the time. So we've been doing puzzles, apart from that I've been working out for a couple of hours every day .it's tough to motivate yourself to workout every day, but I have been pushing myself.

Then, of course, having a 17-month-old child is a full-time job, he's walking and running about now so I'm constantly behind him. The only reason I'm doing this interview right now because he's taking his nap at the moment. But overall it has been an eye-opening experience for me to able to spend this time at home for such a long time. As athletes, we hardly get the opportunities to be with our families for more than a few days at a stretch.tennis is irrelevant right now, I just want me and my loved ones to be healthy.

DSD: I was speaking g to Pankaj Advani the other day and he made an important point, he said this crisis has taught us to appreciate the small things in life that we take for granted, the trash getting picked up, the healthcare workers, the food at home, the utensils...

Sania mirza: Yes, I do feel we took things for granted. Something as simple as like going out for a walk has also become a luxury. This is an eye-opening experience and puts everything in perspective for us humans. There were so much hatred and animosity that was present in the world before this crisis and I feel all that has disappeared because all that people care about is their health at this time. we are all in this together and fighting the virus as one united front. Maybe we needed a crisis like this, we needed a warning from God in order to change the way we function as a species. 
Maybe it's the athlete in me who is trying to look for a positive in such an adverse situation, but I am grateful that I am home and get to spend time with my family.

DSD: You actually were almost stranded when this entire thing blew up...you were at the Fed Cup and that was a historic win for Indian women’s tennis, then you went to the US and Indian Wells was cancelled...must have been extremely worrying and thankfully your son wasn't with you...

Sania Mirza: Yes, I remember returning from the Fed Cup tie on a Saturday night at about 1:30 am and leaving for the US just a few hours later on a Sunday morning flight. If I had booked a Monday morning flight, I wouldn't have had to make the trip because the Indian wells cancellation announcement would have been made. Eventually, that decision was made just a few hours after I landed in California. Luckily, my father's sister lives in San Diego, which is a two-hour drive from Indian wells, so we were able to stay in a safe environment at the time. It was a conscious decision not to take my son the USA, I just didn't want to be on a 16-hour flight with the prevailing situation.

I reached India on the 15th of march and the borders were closed on the 18th, so I got really lucky. It would have been terrible for us if our 17-month-old child was without his father or mother in these times of crisis. There was a 24-hour delay on our flight back to India, but eventually, my father and I reached safe and sound. We were very conscious about the fact that we had to isolate for the next 2 weeks even though were feeling healthy.

<img alt="Exclusive | Sania Mirza in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="51e05c54-c6bf-4a00-ba01-95c69bb6254f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_L67WV.jpg" />

DSD: Lots happening in world sport since...but you have been extremely busy, not sure all out viewers know but you have been providing food for a lot of people...tell me a bit about that.

Sania Mirza:&nbsp;We do a lot of work with the underprivileged throughout the year, it's just something that I try not to publicise that much.but on this occasion I felt like I needed to come out and ask for support. One of my sister's friends was involved with an NGO, called Safa Society, working to raise funds during the crisis and trying to feed as many people as they can, so I made a donation to the organisation. &nbsp;I also joined the initiative and it eventually became an initiative called the youth feed India movement. Till last week we had raised about 1.25 crores for the case, I got a lot of members of my family to pitch in and it has been a real collective effort. There are many people working on the front in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. It is a completely youth-driven movement, so it makes me very proud to be associated with an initiative like this.

Now, we have almost raised 2.5 crore rupees and helped a lot of families get access to food. But the problem in&nbsp;a crisis like this is that no matter how much money you raise, there will always be people that still need some sort of support. So it is an ongoing effort and we are still trying to grow as an organisation and reach out to as many people as we can. Sometimes I almost feel guilty of being privileged, when I see workers with their kids on their shoulders, walking 700 kilometres to get home. I realised how blessed and fortunate I am to be able to be home, I want to help in any which way I can. It is also challenging to contribute while maintaining the principle of social distancing, but we're doing all we can.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-was-devastated-to-hear-about-wimbledon-cancellation-rohan-bopanna-opens-up-on-fate-of-tennis-season-relief-package-for-players-and-more-291185" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Was devastated to hear about Wimbledon cancellation' - Rohan Bopanna opens up on fate of tennis season, relief package for players and more</a>

DSD: Sportspersons are role models for a reason and heartening to see many of your contemporaries, be it in cricket and Olympic sports coming forward and lending a hand, sports cuts across class, culture and religion especially in our country...

Sania Mirza: Sport has always united people. I think sport is the most level playing field in the world in terms of the opportunities it gives to individuals. Sport has the power to bring people together and we have seen such amazing stories from the sporting world over the years. Even among the biggest rivals, there is great camaraderie when they play with each other. I think that is because there is always a mutual respect for each other. An athlete realises the struggles and sacrifices that need to be put in to reach the top level. So there is respect between individuals regardless of the country or sport that you pursue.i'm so delighted that the athletes are contributing to the battle against the coronavirus. It is imperative for athletes to contribute in these times because they are in a position to do so and spread the message of goodwill and positivity.&nbsp;

DSD: Getting back to sport... No French Open, no Wimbledon, no Olympics...pretty dramatic last one month in terms of announcements...

Sania Mirza:&nbsp;It&nbsp;is so sad that these cancellations are taking place. I have been speaking to some of the other tennis professionals lately, we don't get that much of a chance to connect otherwise, but this lockdown gives us an opportunity to catch up. The other day I was speaking to my former doubles partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands trying to make sense of this unprecedented situation. None of us has any idea when we will get the opportunity to be on the court again. All major sports have been hit extremely hard because even if there is a crisis in one country, it disrupts all events in the calendar.

So I think sport as an industry will take a long time to return to normalcy. It is very unfortunate because sport is not just entertainment, it is something that unites people. I don't remember the last time I switched on the television and there was no live-action taking place. Of course, as a tennis player, I'm very sad that no Grand Slams are taking place, but sport is irrelevant right now in the global scheme of things. The priority is to get through this crisis together and be healthy.

DSD: You and Rohan reached the medal match in mixed doubles at Rio 2016 and an Olympic medal is something you desperately crave for to complete your personal set...does this postponement works out well for you?

Sania Mirza: I'm not really looking at the postponement in that manner. As an athlete, the Olympics is something you always look forward to, but we still had three grand slam and other major tournaments scheduled before the Tokyo Games. So I'm not really sure if the postponement works in my favour. But for other athletes, the postponement might be unfortunate, because 15 months is a long time for an athlete. Physically and mentally that might make all the difference for some players. I'm also going to be 34 at the end of the year, so the age factor is something I also have to consider. At the moment, I feel I will play in my fourth Olympics, but I'm just dealing with things on a day-to-day basis.

<img alt="Exclusive | Sania Mirza in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0b5d91a8-62c0-4488-958f-56f1704ebe7a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV986388_0.jpg" />

DSD: Usually when you have. A break, you have a target...right now so much uncertainty...you do not know when the tour will resume. How do you prepare for the eventual resumption of the season?

Sania Mirza: The difficult part is the uncertainty of the calendar. Golf has come out with a calendar at the moment, but at the moment we have no way of knowing what the situation will be like in say, August or September. Canada has already banned all events till august 31, which means the Women's Rogers Cup has been cancelled. I think we have to deal with things on a daily basis, it is very difficult to plan for things two or three months in advance since the situation is changing every minute. I'm just working on my fitness at home, I can't play tennis even though I have a court at home because I don't have a partner due to the social distancing rules. The only aspect of my game I can work on is my serve. People are finding it disturbing because of the uncertainty around everything at the moment, but at the moment the only thing we can do is wait for the situation to get better. I'm just really looking forward to the day when we can all get back to our normal lives. 
&nbsp;

With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc, the sporting calendar has come to an unprecedented halt. Almost every sporting events and tournaments have been either cancelled or postponed with no uncertainty as to when the action will resume.

With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc, the sporting calendar has come to an unprecedented halt. Almost every sporting events and tournaments have been either cancelled or postponed with no uncertainty as to when the action will resume. Tennis is one of the sports to be affected most by the pandemic with tournaments like Wimbledon, French Open, Indian Wells, Rogers Cup, among others being rescheduled or completely called off due to the dreaded COVID-19. Ace Indian tennis star, Khel Ratna awardee, former world number one and six time Grand Slam champion, Sania Mirza, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from how she is dealing with the current lockdown, cancellation of sporting events, charity work at ground zero, how is she preparing for the resumption of season, and much more... × Digvijay Singh Deo: Sania, it has been almost 3 weeks now since the lockdown began, how have you been? Sania Mirza: I have been good and been taking care of my health, which is the most important thing. I returned from the USA about a month back, just before the lockdown started. I have actually been in lockdown for more than 3 weeks since I was self-isolating when I came to India. The nationwide lockdown began in the middle of my scheduled 2-week self-isolation. So I've been in the house for over a month now. DSD: First up, I must say that thanks to your father we get to know all the important dates and yesterday was your 10th wedding anniversary and also the 5th anniversary of you becoming world number one! Sania Mirza: Somehow 12th of April seems to be a very important day in my life. Celebrating my anniversary is a bit difficult because my husband, Shoaib Malik, is in Pakistan and I am in Hyderabad. He was playing the Pakistan Super League when the lockdown began, so he had to rush back to his home in Pakistan. Now, we are not sure when we'll be able to see each other again or go back to Dubai. My son, Izhaan, is really missing his father. But having said that 10 years is a major milestone in a marriage and it seems like it was only yesterday when I got married, which I guess is a good thing. A high profile marriage brings its share of difficulties, but I have no complaints so far and I'm very grateful for that. We've had a long run and we're looking forward to spending many more years together. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'It is time to introspect' - Pankaj Advani opens up on COVID-19 situation, lockdown, sporting calendar and more DSD: You are blessed to have family around in these items.again thanks to your father I have sort of glimpsed what is going on in the house, so table tennis matches and also jigsaw puzzle attempts. Sania Mirza: I think the lockdown has helped people get a new perspective on their lives. For me, getting back to the tennis court and competing again was such a priority, but now I just want my family to be healthy. I'm grateful that I'm getting to spend so much time with my family. Since there is a lockdown, you do need some activity to pass the time. So we've been doing puzzles, apart from that I've been working out for a couple of hours every day .it's tough to motivate yourself to workout every day, but I have been pushing myself. Then, of course, having a 17-month-old child is a full-time job, he's walking and running about now so I'm constantly behind him. The only reason I'm doing this interview right now because he's taking his nap at the moment. But overall it has been an eye-opening experience for me to able to spend this time at home for such a long time. As athletes, we hardly get the opportunities to be with our families for more than a few days at a stretch.tennis is irrelevant right now, I just want me and my loved ones to be healthy. DSD: I was speaking g to Pankaj Advani the other day and he made an important point, he said this crisis has taught us to appreciate the small things in life that we take for granted, the trash getting picked up, the healthcare workers, the food at home, the utensils... Sania mirza: Yes, I do feel we took things for granted. Something as simple as like going out for a walk has also become a luxury. This is an eye-opening experience and puts everything in perspective for us humans. There were so much hatred and animosity that was present in the world before this crisis and I feel all that has disappeared because all that people care about is their health at this time. we are all in this together and fighting the virus as one united front. Maybe we needed a crisis like this, we needed a warning from God in order to change the way we function as a species. Maybe it's the athlete in me who is trying to look for a positive in such an adverse situation, but I am grateful that I am home and get to spend time with my family. DSD: You actually were almost stranded when this entire thing blew up...you were at the Fed Cup and that was a historic win for Indian women’s tennis, then you went to the US and Indian Wells was cancelled...must have been extremely worrying and thankfully your son wasn't with you... Sania Mirza: Yes, I remember returning from the Fed Cup tie on a Saturday night at about 1:30 am and leaving for the US just a few hours later on a Sunday morning flight. If I had booked a Monday morning flight, I wouldn't have had to make the trip because the Indian wells cancellation announcement would have been made. Eventually, that decision was made just a few hours after I landed in California. Luckily, my father's sister lives in San Diego, which is a two-hour drive from Indian wells, so we were able to stay in a safe environment at the time. It was a conscious decision not to take my son the USA, I just didn't want to be on a 16-hour flight with the prevailing situation. I reached India on the 15th of march and the borders were closed on the 18th, so I got really lucky. It would have been terrible for us if our 17-month-old child was without his father or mother in these times of crisis. There was a 24-hour delay on our flight back to India, but eventually, my father and I reached safe and sound. We were very conscious about the fact that we had to isolate for the next 2 weeks even though were feeling healthy. DSD: Lots happening in world sport since...but you have been extremely busy, not sure all out viewers know but you have been providing food for a lot of people...tell me a bit about that. Sania Mirza: We do a lot of work with the underprivileged throughout the year, it's just something that I try not to publicise that much.but on this occasion I felt like I needed to come out and ask for support. One of my sister's friends was involved with an NGO, called Safa Society, working to raise funds during the crisis and trying to feed as many people as they can, so I made a donation to the organisation. I also joined the initiative and it eventually became an initiative called the youth feed India movement. Till last week we had raised about 1.25 crores for the case, I got a lot of members of my family to pitch in and it has been a real collective effort. There are many people working on the front in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. It is a completely youth-driven movement, so it makes me very proud to be associated with an initiative like this. Now, we have almost raised 2.5 crore rupees and helped a lot of families get access to food. But the problem in a crisis like this is that no matter how much money you raise, there will always be people that still need some sort of support. So it is an ongoing effort and we are still trying to grow as an organisation and reach out to as many people as we can. Sometimes I almost feel guilty of being privileged, when I see workers with their kids on their shoulders, walking 700 kilometres to get home. I realised how blessed and fortunate I am to be able to be home, I want to help in any which way I can. It is also challenging to contribute while maintaining the principle of social distancing, but we're doing all we can. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Was devastated to hear about Wimbledon cancellation' - Rohan Bopanna opens up on fate of tennis season, relief package for players and more DSD: Sportspersons are role models for a reason and heartening to see many of your contemporaries, be it in cricket and Olympic sports coming forward and lending a hand, sports cuts across class, culture and religion especially in our country... Sania Mirza: Sport has always united people. I think sport is the most level playing field in the world in terms of the opportunities it gives to individuals. Sport has the power to bring people together and we have seen such amazing stories from the sporting world over the years. Even among the biggest rivals, there is great camaraderie when they play with each other. I think that is because there is always a mutual respect for each other. An athlete realises the struggles and sacrifices that need to be put in to reach the top level. So there is respect between individuals regardless of the country or sport that you pursue.i'm so delighted that the athletes are contributing to the battle against the coronavirus. It is imperative for athletes to contribute in these times because they are in a position to do so and spread the message of goodwill and positivity. DSD: Getting back to sport... No French Open, no Wimbledon, no Olympics...pretty dramatic last one month in terms of announcements... Sania Mirza: It is so sad that these cancellations are taking place. I have been speaking to some of the other tennis professionals lately, we don't get that much of a chance to connect otherwise, but this lockdown gives us an opportunity to catch up. The other day I was speaking to my former doubles partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands trying to make sense of this unprecedented situation. None of us has any idea when we will get the opportunity to be on the court again. All major sports have been hit extremely hard because even if there is a crisis in one country, it disrupts all events in the calendar. So I think sport as an industry will take a long time to return to normalcy. It is very unfortunate because sport is not just entertainment, it is something that unites people. I don't remember the last time I switched on the television and there was no live-action taking place. Of course, as a tennis player, I'm very sad that no Grand Slams are taking place, but sport is irrelevant right now in the global scheme of things. The priority is to get through this crisis together and be healthy. DSD: You and Rohan reached the medal match in mixed doubles at Rio 2016 and an Olympic medal is something you desperately crave for to complete your personal set...does this postponement works out well for you? Sania Mirza: I'm not really looking at the postponement in that manner. As an athlete, the Olympics is something you always look forward to, but we still had three grand slam and other major tournaments scheduled before the Tokyo Games. So I'm not really sure if the postponement works in my favour. But for other athletes, the postponement might be unfortunate, because 15 months is a long time for an athlete. Physically and mentally that might make all the difference for some players. I'm also going to be 34 at the end of the year, so the age factor is something I also have to consider. At the moment, I feel I will play in my fourth Olympics, but I'm just dealing with things on a day-to-day basis. DSD: Usually when you have. A break, you have a target...right now so much uncertainty...you do not know when the tour will resume. How do you prepare for the eventual resumption of the season? Sania Mirza: The difficult part is the uncertainty of the calendar. Golf has come out with a calendar at the moment, but at the moment we have no way of knowing what the situation will be like in say, August or September. Canada has already banned all events till august 31, which means the Women's Rogers Cup has been cancelled. I think we have to deal with things on a daily basis, it is very difficult to plan for things two or three months in advance since the situation is changing every minute. I'm just working on my fitness at home, I can't play tennis even though I have a court at home because I don't have a partner due to the social distancing rules. The only aspect of my game I can work on is my serve. People are finding it disturbing because of the uncertainty around everything at the moment, but at the moment the only thing we can do is wait for the situation to get better. I'm just really looking forward to the day when we can all get back to our normal lives.

Exclusive: 'Sports industry will take long time to return to normalcy' - Sania Mirza reflects on lockdown situation, cancellation of tournaments and much more

Sportspersons have been restricted to train indoors amid the lockdown. Athletes, who usually are on the road due to their hectic scheduling, are now getting to spend time with their families but are missing the high-octane action which makes the sporting world special. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the sporting world to a grinding halt and golf is one of the sport to be affected by the dreaded virus the most.&nbsp;

Golf organisations tried to salvage the season with a series of changes in the scheduling of British Open, PGA Championships, PGA Tour postseason, US Open, Ryder Cup, Masters, to name a few, in a hope that normal routine will prevail once the chaos surrounding the coronavirus pandemic is over.&nbsp;

Ace Indian golfer, Shubhankar Sharma, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, reflected on life in lockdown, golfing in garden, how the unprecedented halt is going to affect the world of golf, why the postponement of Tokyo Olympics is a blessing in disguise for him, his uncanny technique with cricket bat and much more.

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Digvijay Singh Deo: Shubhankar Sharma, thank you for your time. Saw a Twitter video of you playing cricket and now tips coming in from former India cricketers. Any improvements swinging a cricket bat?

Shubhankar Sharma: We're all just trying to pass our time. I&nbsp;hadn't played cricket in a while, so I decided to give it a go when the lockdown was announced and since then I have been playing every day at 5 in the evening for about an hour and I must say it's a lot of fun.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Looking at the reactions, I guess I require some more practise. May be my golfing friends, sir <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianLara?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianLara</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/kartikmurali?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kartikmurali</a> will have some advise to give. <a href="https://t.co/GoxKcPl3ok">https://t.co/GoxKcPl3ok</a>
— Shubhankar Sharma (@shubhankargolf) <a href="https://twitter.com/shubhankargolf/status/1243181564395053056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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DSD:&nbsp;Have you probably got a driving simulator installed somewhere in the house, or is there a putting green in the backyard?

Shubhankar:&nbsp;Yes, the garden has been converted into a putting green, I spend about an hour or two chippings every day in my garden. That is one of the aspects of my game that I really need to work upon and I'm just using this time to do so since it doesn't require a lot of space. I do air swings and that really helps improve my muscle memory. I work out for an hour as well, so my various activities keep me occupied throughout the day.<img alt="Shubhankar Sharma" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fcea621-c8ea-4413-acc8-cdae7aa39364" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_UL18Y.jpg" />

DSD: If&nbsp;you're chipping in your garden, then it wouldn't be a great sight once the lockdown is over!

Shubhankar: My parents might not be happy with the state of the garden, but they would prefer that to have me inside the house all the time. They're not used to having me home for such a long period of time, I think this is the longest I've spent at home in a while since I travel so much. It is a welcome break for me, but I'm sure it must be strange for my parents and sister to have me home for such an extended period.

DSD: Every sportsperson out there, professional or amateur is currently inactive...is it frustrating for someone so used to being outdoors and how are you coping with it?

Shubhankar: To be honest, I feel it's the opposite for me. I'm pretty happy that I'm at home. I've been travelling a lot in the past three years, things really changed for me when I won in Johannesburg in 2017. I've played in Europe and America in the last couple of years and even at the start of 2020, I travelled quite a bit, so it got really hectic for me.i feel this is a blessing in disguise for me since there's a lockdown, I can't go and meet friends but I still don't mind being at home. I enjoy not having to push myself every day. The atmosphere in my house is very relaxed, even though I'm still working on certain aspects of my game, overall, it is a welcome change

DSD: There is a massive problem in tennis especially with a lot of players struggling financially, forget the PGA Tour and the European tours where the prize money is significant. What about Indian players? How are they coping with no income?

Shubhankar: The situation is obviously not ideal, everyone would want to play right now. Especially in India, the prize money from the tournaments is not much and as you said there are a bunch of players whose livelihoods depend on the money they get from the PGTI tournaments. So these are tough times. But having said that, I feel there are bigger issues to fight in the world. The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic is rising every day and there is a real global crisis.

It is not just golf, every single industry or person is suffering. The economy has taken a big hit .i've spoken to a few friends who are dying to play and same for me as well. Fortunately, I'm not struggling financially at the moment, but I'm sure there are many players on the PGTI tour who are going through major problems. I hope this phase passes soon and life gets back to normal. India has done a commendable job in containing the disease with the various measures taken and I'm proud of the way our country has reacted to the outbreak. Hopefully, we weather the storm and the PGTI will be up and running in august or September, if I'm being optimistic.

DSD: Now it’s not just the players, there are caddies and others who are apart of a players team. Caddies usually not paid monthly, they get a percentage of the players' income from a tournament and Tommy Fleetwood's caddy recently organised a fundraiser online.

<img alt="Shubhankar Sharma" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c65dfb48-5706-4c78-a343-58f2242de9af" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_17U26V.jpg" />

Shubhankar: Everyone has been affected by the crisis. I think the players are not the ones who are suffering the most, the caddies or the support staff are the worst hit. Any tournament happens because of the hard work of the support staff and the organisers, the same is the case with the PGTI tournaments in India. It's great that Tommy Fleetwood's caddie is raising money for other fellow bagmen, I think that is a fantastic gesture. But it's an unfortunate situation for the whole world. Hopefully, a vaccine will be available soon and the world will go back to functioning normally.

DSD: If&nbsp;all had been going well then the first round of the masters would just have been completed and we would be analysing trends, all we can do is rewind to Tiger’s triumph last year and Tiger had a champions dinner with his family to sort of remind everyone...

Shubhankar: Yes big tournaments like the Augusta Masters and Wimbledon in tennis have been cancelled.april is usually a very exciting time for sport. I was lucky enough to play in the masters a couple of years back and ever since I was a kid I have been watching the masters. So for sports fans its a tough time as well. In fact, just in the morning, I was going through my photos from the masters and I also watched some of Tiger Woods' old clips from Augusta, enjoying a few of his great moments. But the situations is what it is, I think we just have to wait it out at this moment of time.

DSD: Significant announcement this week from the PGA Tour and other tours. We at least have three majors still lined up this season when it begins. What do you make of the revamped schedule?

Shubhankar:&nbsp;I&nbsp;think it's a great step by all the golfing bodies to announce the schedule. More than anything I just think it gives us golfers something to look forward to, it makes us more optimistic for a golfing season. It also gives me a little push to develop my game, as well as mentally gear up for action in the near future. So it keeps us on our toes even in this lockdown period.

DSD: Will golfers need a new approach towards the game given the revamped schedule, especially during the last few months of the year?

Shubhankar: Yes, it just changes everyone's schedule. We are obviously not used to having the masters in November. The rest of the majors have been pushed to august and September, so it will require us golfers to adapt. For me, I have been playing on the European tour for the last couple of years and our season gets over in Dubai in November, so the whole schedule will change. Hopefully, the swing that happens before the British Open will happen in the latter part of the year, but no announcement has been made yet.

As of now, I'm just looking forward to August and September, when the events will resume. Despite the announcement, there is still obviously uncertainty surrounding the season as we don't know when exactly the crisis will finish. But even if we cannot have a full season, holding a few events will be beneficial for the sport.

DSD: Should tournaments resume without fans, will it be the same, Shubhankar?

Shubhankar:&nbsp;It&nbsp;obviously won't be the same. Any sport will become boring without fans. They were discussing holding the Masters without fans, for me, the masters is a very special tournament, but the fans make it even more special for a player.

Not only golf, but the same atmosphere also cannot be created in sports like tennis or formula one without the fans, it's just not the same. In football as well, there are talks of the champions league taking place without fans. In football it's hard to imagine a game in an empty stadium, it will be very strange. But I understand that deadlines have to be met and this is an unprecedented situation.

So I think the step should be taken only if it is the last resort, I think a better option would be to wait it out and come back stronger. For example, the Olympics were pushed back to 2021, because they realised that the event would not have been able to take place in its full glory in 2020. Athletes would not have been fully prepared and lesser fans would have travelled to Japan. So sport without fans is very strange and I certainly wouldn't watch if there were no spectators in a match or an event.

<img alt="Shubhankar Sharma" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aec76c83-4188-4045-9532-9e18b695c858" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1KI49Q.jpg" />

DSD: Another big casualty has been the Olympics. Pushing it back by a year gives you a shot now to climb up the rankings if and when the season resumes...

Shubhankar: It&nbsp;is definitely a blessing in disguise for me. I wasn't in the best of form at the start of the year, I didn't have any good finishes in tournaments. There were a lot of things I was working on in my game, and for that reason, i&nbsp;wasn't very settled. I was just making a lot of mental errors. Now since the games have been pushed back, it just gives me time to reevaluate things and work on certain aspects of my game like chipping, which I am doing in my garden. I'm not that far behind in terms of qualification and I am confident if I play to the best of my ability, I will make the team and compete for a medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

DSD: Do you know to go back to the drawing board in terms of your schedule as you target an Olympic berth. Will you consider playing on the Asian Tour as it is difficult to always finish in the top-10 on the European or PGA tours?

Shubhankar: Yes I will definitely reconsider my schedule this year. Even the Indian tour for that matter has world ranking points on offer. I have grown up playing on that tour and I am familiar with the courses and other players as well. So playing on the Indian tour will be a good start in terms of moving up in the rankings. So I will figure out a way in which I can play some more Asian tour events.

DSD: When things resume how rusty will everyone be, some sportspersons reckon it will be a level playing field for all athletes for the first couple of months because of the lack of practice...

Shubhankar: Definitely, I think everyone is going to be rusty. Even though we are indoors, there are a number of things we can work on, both physically and mentally. So a possibility of a level playing field is there, but I think the great players will still come out and shoot low scores, that is what separates the average players from the great ones. It comes down to your work ethic, and that is where the best players outshine the others.

Sportspersons have been restricted to train indoors amid the lockdown. Athletes, who usually are on the road due to their hectic scheduling, are now getting to spend time with their families but are missing the high-octane action which makes the sporting world special.

Sportspersons have been restricted to train indoors amid the lockdown. Athletes, who usually are on the road due to their hectic scheduling, are now getting to spend time with their families but are missing the high-octane action which makes the sporting world special. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the sporting world to a grinding halt and golf is one of the sport to be affected by the dreaded virus the most. Golf organisations tried to salvage the season with a series of changes in the scheduling of British Open, PGA Championships, PGA Tour postseason, US Open, Ryder Cup, Masters, to name a few, in a hope that normal routine will prevail once the chaos surrounding the coronavirus pandemic is over. Ace Indian golfer, Shubhankar Sharma, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, reflected on life in lockdown, golfing in garden, how the unprecedented halt is going to affect the world of golf, why the postponement of Tokyo Olympics is a blessing in disguise for him, his uncanny technique with cricket bat and much more. × Digvijay Singh Deo: Shubhankar Sharma, thank you for your time. Saw a Twitter video of you playing cricket and now tips coming in from former India cricketers. Any improvements swinging a cricket bat? Shubhankar Sharma: We're all just trying to pass our time. I hadn't played cricket in a while, so I decided to give it a go when the lockdown was announced and since then I have been playing every day at 5 in the evening for about an hour and I must say it's a lot of fun. Looking at the reactions, I guess I require some more practise. May be my golfing friends, sir @BrianLara and @kartikmurali will have some advise to give. https://t.co/GoxKcPl3ok — Shubhankar Sharma (@shubhankargolf) March 26, 2020 × DSD: Have you probably got a driving simulator installed somewhere in the house, or is there a putting green in the backyard? Shubhankar: Yes, the garden has been converted into a putting green, I spend about an hour or two chippings every day in my garden. That is one of the aspects of my game that I really need to work upon and I'm just using this time to do so since it doesn't require a lot of space. I do air swings and that really helps improve my muscle memory. I work out for an hour as well, so my various activities keep me occupied throughout the day. DSD: If you're chipping in your garden, then it wouldn't be a great sight once the lockdown is over! Shubhankar: My parents might not be happy with the state of the garden, but they would prefer that to have me inside the house all the time. They're not used to having me home for such a long period of time, I think this is the longest I've spent at home in a while since I travel so much. It is a welcome break for me, but I'm sure it must be strange for my parents and sister to have me home for such an extended period. DSD: Every sportsperson out there, professional or amateur is currently inactive...is it frustrating for someone so used to being outdoors and how are you coping with it? Shubhankar: To be honest, I feel it's the opposite for me. I'm pretty happy that I'm at home. I've been travelling a lot in the past three years, things really changed for me when I won in Johannesburg in 2017. I've played in Europe and America in the last couple of years and even at the start of 2020, I travelled quite a bit, so it got really hectic for me.i feel this is a blessing in disguise for me since there's a lockdown, I can't go and meet friends but I still don't mind being at home. I enjoy not having to push myself every day. The atmosphere in my house is very relaxed, even though I'm still working on certain aspects of my game, overall, it is a welcome change DSD: There is a massive problem in tennis especially with a lot of players struggling financially, forget the PGA Tour and the European tours where the prize money is significant. What about Indian players? How are they coping with no income? Shubhankar: The situation is obviously not ideal, everyone would want to play right now. Especially in India, the prize money from the tournaments is not much and as you said there are a bunch of players whose livelihoods depend on the money they get from the PGTI tournaments. So these are tough times. But having said that, I feel there are bigger issues to fight in the world. The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic is rising every day and there is a real global crisis. It is not just golf, every single industry or person is suffering. The economy has taken a big hit .i've spoken to a few friends who are dying to play and same for me as well. Fortunately, I'm not struggling financially at the moment, but I'm sure there are many players on the PGTI tour who are going through major problems. I hope this phase passes soon and life gets back to normal. India has done a commendable job in containing the disease with the various measures taken and I'm proud of the way our country has reacted to the outbreak. Hopefully, we weather the storm and the PGTI will be up and running in august or September, if I'm being optimistic. DSD: Now it’s not just the players, there are caddies and others who are apart of a players team. Caddies usually not paid monthly, they get a percentage of the players' income from a tournament and Tommy Fleetwood's caddy recently organised a fundraiser online. Shubhankar: Everyone has been affected by the crisis. I think the players are not the ones who are suffering the most, the caddies or the support staff are the worst hit. Any tournament happens because of the hard work of the support staff and the organisers, the same is the case with the PGTI tournaments in India. It's great that Tommy Fleetwood's caddie is raising money for other fellow bagmen, I think that is a fantastic gesture. But it's an unfortunate situation for the whole world. Hopefully, a vaccine will be available soon and the world will go back to functioning normally. DSD: If all had been going well then the first round of the masters would just have been completed and we would be analysing trends, all we can do is rewind to Tiger’s triumph last year and Tiger had a champions dinner with his family to sort of remind everyone... Shubhankar: Yes big tournaments like the Augusta Masters and Wimbledon in tennis have been cancelled.april is usually a very exciting time for sport. I was lucky enough to play in the masters a couple of years back and ever since I was a kid I have been watching the masters. So for sports fans its a tough time as well. In fact, just in the morning, I was going through my photos from the masters and I also watched some of Tiger Woods' old clips from Augusta, enjoying a few of his great moments. But the situations is what it is, I think we just have to wait it out at this moment of time. DSD: Significant announcement this week from the PGA Tour and other tours. We at least have three majors still lined up this season when it begins. What do you make of the revamped schedule? Shubhankar: I think it's a great step by all the golfing bodies to announce the schedule. More than anything I just think it gives us golfers something to look forward to, it makes us more optimistic for a golfing season. It also gives me a little push to develop my game, as well as mentally gear up for action in the near future. So it keeps us on our toes even in this lockdown period. DSD: Will golfers need a new approach towards the game given the revamped schedule, especially during the last few months of the year? Shubhankar: Yes, it just changes everyone's schedule. We are obviously not used to having the masters in November. The rest of the majors have been pushed to august and September, so it will require us golfers to adapt. For me, I have been playing on the European tour for the last couple of years and our season gets over in Dubai in November, so the whole schedule will change. Hopefully, the swing that happens before the British Open will happen in the latter part of the year, but no announcement has been made yet. As of now, I'm just looking forward to August and September, when the events will resume. Despite the announcement, there is still obviously uncertainty surrounding the season as we don't know when exactly the crisis will finish. But even if we cannot have a full season, holding a few events will be beneficial for the sport. DSD: Should tournaments resume without fans, will it be the same, Shubhankar? Shubhankar: It obviously won't be the same. Any sport will become boring without fans. They were discussing holding the Masters without fans, for me, the masters is a very special tournament, but the fans make it even more special for a player. Not only golf, but the same atmosphere also cannot be created in sports like tennis or formula one without the fans, it's just not the same. In football as well, there are talks of the champions league taking place without fans. In football it's hard to imagine a game in an empty stadium, it will be very strange. But I understand that deadlines have to be met and this is an unprecedented situation. So I think the step should be taken only if it is the last resort, I think a better option would be to wait it out and come back stronger. For example, the Olympics were pushed back to 2021, because they realised that the event would not have been able to take place in its full glory in 2020. Athletes would not have been fully prepared and lesser fans would have travelled to Japan. So sport without fans is very strange and I certainly wouldn't watch if there were no spectators in a match or an event. DSD: Another big casualty has been the Olympics. Pushing it back by a year gives you a shot now to climb up the rankings if and when the season resumes... Shubhankar: It is definitely a blessing in disguise for me. I wasn't in the best of form at the start of the year, I didn't have any good finishes in tournaments. There were a lot of things I was working on in my game, and for that reason, i wasn't very settled. I was just making a lot of mental errors. Now since the games have been pushed back, it just gives me time to reevaluate things and work on certain aspects of my game like chipping, which I am doing in my garden. I'm not that far behind in terms of qualification and I am confident if I play to the best of my ability, I will make the team and compete for a medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. DSD: Do you know to go back to the drawing board in terms of your schedule as you target an Olympic berth. Will you consider playing on the Asian Tour as it is difficult to always finish in the top-10 on the European or PGA tours? Shubhankar: Yes I will definitely reconsider my schedule this year. Even the Indian tour for that matter has world ranking points on offer. I have grown up playing on that tour and I am familiar with the courses and other players as well. So playing on the Indian tour will be a good start in terms of moving up in the rankings. So I will figure out a way in which I can play some more Asian tour events. DSD: When things resume how rusty will everyone be, some sportspersons reckon it will be a level playing field for all athletes for the first couple of months because of the lack of practice... Shubhankar: Definitely, I think everyone is going to be rusty. Even though we are indoors, there are a number of things we can work on, both physically and mentally. So a possibility of a level playing field is there, but I think the great players will still come out and shoot low scores, that is what separates the average players from the great ones. It comes down to your work ethic, and that is where the best players outshine the others.

Exclusive: Shubhankar Sharma reflects on life in lockdown, scheduling of golf tournaments and much more

Sporting calendar has been left shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic and motorsport has also been affected heavily by the dreaded virus, postponing as many as nine races.

Sporting calendar has been left shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic and motorsport has also been affected heavily by the dreaded virus, postponing as many as nine races. The Canadian Grand Prix was the latest to join the list, consisting the likes of Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, China, Netherlands, Monaco, Spain and Vietnam Grand Prix, to be postponed in the 2020 F1 season. One of the prominent voices in Formula One and one of two Indians to race in the sport – Karun Chandhok – in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo spoke about a lot of things ranging from the halted season, how the racing season could be revived, team dynamics in F1, virtual races, life in lockdown and more. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'It is time to introspect' - Pankaj Advani opens up on COVID-19 situation, lockdown, sporting calendar and more Digvijay Singh Deo: Karun, you are in England and the news coming out of there does not make pleasant reading. How dire is it there? Karun Chandhok: The situation in England is not great at the moment, even the prime minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, has been admitted to the ICU. So it is tough, but to be honest it is the same as the rest of the world. I don't think the scenario is necessarily worse than the rest of Europe. Everyone is tracking a different curve and timeline. I think in a country like India, it's difficult to know what the actual numbers are because the population is so high and people aren't being tested enough. The same problem exists in the USA. We've all fighting a common enemy and every country is trying to deal with it the best way we can. DSD: You have an extremely young family as well so both Akshara and you have to be taking extra precautions. KC: We're very lucky because we live away from London, in the suburbs, so it is still possible to exercise self-isolation while still going out and being away from people, which is nice. The town that I live in has only 11,000 people, the population is probably less than that of my old colony in Chennai where I grew up. But for others who live in the heart of the city, it's difficult, whether you live in Delhi, Mumbai or London, it is tough to find space to isolate. DSD: And the other part of your family is in Chennai, your bother is a broadcaster and must be in Mumbai so the Chandhok's are scattered here and there at the moment... KC: It was my fathers' birthday yesterday, so we had a zoom call yesterday which involved about 20 family members from all across the world, including Australia, USA, all parts of Europe and India as well. So everyone is finding new ways of staying in touch with their loved ones. I just wish I had bought shares in 'zoom' before the coronavirus crisis started, that would have been a very fruitful investment. DSD: Let’s talk about formula one. Canadian GP has been postponed now as well. That’s the first nine races gone. Just like that... KC: Yes, nine races have been cancelled, and the decisions have been taken after due deliberation. The announcements are coming slowly, but that is because there is no immediate rush to do so. The promoters and race organisers can take their time. I personally do not think the season can start before august, and that itself is optimistic. I'm not a medical professional or a scientist so I don't know how long this crisis will carry on.but from what I'm reading and seeing in the news, I feel that the summer months will be able to flatten the curve and stop the spread. But formula one is a global event, unlike say the IPL or Wimbledon. So even if the situation improves in Europe, but not in Asia or South America, then the formula one will not be able to function. The travel restrictions need to be relaxed for people to come in from all over the world, as races take place in every corner of the globe. That's the tricky aspect for formula one, that the situation in the entire world needs to improve for the season to get up and running. However, on the flip-side, we can have a truncated season, unlike Wimbledon, which can only be held during a certain time in a year. Whereas in Formula One you can be a little more flexible and juggle the calendar to have some form of a campaign. You can race in the middle eastern countries in the winter and race in Europe in August. DSD: Let’s go back to those farcical scenes in Melbourne last month. F1 has the reputation of being a snobbish sport and the tamasha that unfolded in Melbourne is going to haunt the sport for a long long time. KC: I think it is wrong to solely blame F1 for what happened in Australia. The reality is that there were three parties involved in the decision-making process- the Formula One authorities, the Australian government/ local promoters and the governing body of the sport- FIA. There were problems of communication between those three parties, as Chase Carey, the formula one chief was in Vietnam, evaluating the situation there for the inaugural Hanoi GP. While the FIA head Jean Todt was in Europe. For the local promoters, the commercial aspect had to be looked at and there was a lot of money to be made. They also had to look at their relationship with the australian government, so the due process had to be followed. So overall it was the perfect storm. But the issue which wasn't handled well by the authorities was that of communication to the fans. Even on the Friday morning, there was news on the radio, urging fans to head to the track and people were cueing up outside the gate. So that was an error on the part of the F1 bosses. So the rest of it is hard for us to judge as there are so many layers that need to be considered. So the only thing I would fault the F1 for is the lack of communication to the fans. DSD: Let’s look at the scenarios. Bernie Ecclestone the former supremo of F1 feels the season is a write-off. Liberty says they can still salvage a season. With Canada now gone and with France looking unlikely as well you are looking at no races till the end of June. KC: There have to be at least eight rounds in a season to constitute an FIA World Championship. So if we start in August and continue the season till the second or third week of December, I think it's logistically possible to manage 12 or 13 race weekends. I think the biggest question is that of when can we start. There are enough European venues which will be willing host races if the world health organisation and the various governments clear it. I think all the European Grand Prix can be held. The Bahrain and Abu Dhabi races can be held towards December. I don't think the Singapore race will be possible as it is a street circuit and they will have to prepare the track. So for the Singapore GP to take place, they need to be told at least three months in advance, so it could happen maybe in December, but they would need to get the green light in august. So it is a slightly complicated situation. But the Chinese Grand Prix could take place, as the Shanghai track will be open in June. That would be an amazing story since china is where the crisis started. And finally, a quick North American leg can also happen depending on the pandemic situation there, with races in Texas and Mexico. So potentially a season could take place, but the main question is when it will be able to start. DSD: I spoke to Rohan Bopanna the other day and asked if he felt tennis season should resume under closed doors. F1 is thinking of the same as well but Bops said you forget about players and everyone flying in, quarantine regulations etc.thats a problem every sport is facing and unless we have a private island like the one UFC is proposing I find it difficult to believe that these restrictions will be lifted KC: As I said before, travel needs to resume, quarantines need to be wavered and various restrictions have to be lifted globally for the formula season to kick off. DSD: Economically, Karun, what is the hit we are looking at for the sport if there is no 2020 season.not just about drivers and teams there are others including possibly you not getting salaries KC: I think the reality is that the whole world is taking a hit. Regardless of the scale of the business, whether it be a local grocery store or a multinational corporation, each and every establishment of any sort is suffering. So Formula One is no different, everyone is in the same boat. The survival of F1 depends on how the sport reacts to this crisis. But there are changes being made, for example, there were rule changes that were going to take place in 2021, which have now been pushed back to 2022. That was going to be extremely expensive as the whole concept and designs of the car was going to be modified. The rules change might even get pushed back to 2023, so that is a big cost-saving strategy. Other measures are also being taken, a rule might be passed which means that the same 2020 cars will be used for the 2021 season. So that saves the cost of building and designing another car. Owners of the sport- the liberty group are very aware of the problems that are facing formula one, so I believe they know what needs to be done to help teams survive. Think of like a government, every government is trying to put together a package to help industries and businesses. So the F1, on a smaller scale is trying to do something similar. So F1 has to ensure that teams are provided with aid, but it is also difficult for them as the sport is also losing out on a lot of money. The rights fees for races aren't coming and there is no sponsorship money because the season is not on. In simple terms, if there are no races, there is no money flowing in. DSD: Mclaren has already come out and said two to four teams could fold. How significant are the operating margins? And I ask you this as you are closely involved with the sport and have a better understanding than us. KC: I think in terms of the top teams- Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari- as long as the parent companies and the factories continue to support them, they will be able to manage.those three have got enough financial muscle to survive the crisis. But the question mark remains over manufacturers like Renault, the automotive industry has taken a hit worldwide. So I'm sure their board is wondering what cutbacks they need to make to their F1 expenses. Now, these four are the manufacturers, then you have six independent teams. These independent teams spend about 100 million pounds a season to operate and compete in formula one. That sum is for a full season of 22 races. If there are fewer races, obviously less money will be spent. But the overheads of the teams are still the same, Racing Point, Williams and McLaren have announced that they are furloughing some of their staff. But as I mentioned before, the overheads of the infrastructure are still high for a team. So these teams need to figure out a way to spend I would estimate around 60-70 million pounds in the year to survive. Now a huge portion of that money comes from tv right, media rights and race hosting rights. All of this rights money constitutes a formula one pot, the teams share 65 per cent of the sum, while F1 keeps the rest of the money. Now in order for the sport to survive and for the teams to survive, the F1 could make an exception and change that equation for this year. The MotoGP have done that, they have given more money to the independent teams this year to help through this financial crisis. DSD: There also the power struggle going on about reduced budget caps. I find merit in the argument of the big teams, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull that we also sell parts to other teams so you have to factor in higher research and development costs for us. KC: I don't think that should be the case. The devil is in the detail. These are all arguments that carry on in the political world of F1. But actually it's quite simple, if you take engine development out of the budget cap, making it an operational cap for the race team, then it becomes the same for every competitor a separate engine development cap can stop the manufacturers from needing to spend more. So everything is workable, it's just that unfortunately the people associated with F1 are wired in such a way that they think of themselves sport. But I guess that is the nature of sport, you have to be selfish to a certain degree to be successful. But at this point F1 needs strong leaders, they need Chase Carey and Jean Todt to step up and come up with a concrete plan to deal with the crisis.we are at a crossroads, where F1 could go back to having more independent teams, which means the manufacturers would become engine suppliers. That was the model that existed for a long time till the early 1990s, when you had independent teams with an engine partner. So if the auto industry doesn't recover and the manufacturers feel like they need to cut back on their expenditure, maybe they will go back to being engine suppliers. For example, that is what honda are doing right now, they are not a full team, they're just partners with red bull and there's nothing wrong with that, it is actually part of the DNA of the sport. DSD: Trust is a huge part of the problem. Team dynamics aren’t exactly the greatest at the moment. The Ferrari settlement with the FIA didn’t go down well with the teams. Are teams entitled to want more transparency and is the perceived lack of transparency hurting the sport? KC: I think I can understand why the teams are not happy about Ferrari's settlement with the FIA. If I'm honest I'm a little surprised that the FIA announced that there was some sort of settlement with Ferrari. In the past, when Bernie Ecclestone was in charge, I'm sure there were many deals done that none of us even knew about since they happened behind closed doors. For whatever reason, the FIA announced they had made the settlement and that upset all the other teams. But because of the coronavirus crisis, that issue has been shelved for the time being. DSD: I want to also understand how do drivers stay fit. Most have gyms and simulators at home. Other sportspersons around the world like a tennis player do not have access to say a tennis court. Do F1 drivers then have an advantage or they need to spend time in the car? KC: Nothing beats being in an actual car, but I think it's the same for every sportsperson at the moment. I think most people have some sort of training set up at home. I, for example, have a rowing machine, so I've been spending about an hour every day on that. Some people are going for a run outdoors if it is safe to do so. They are finding ways to maintain their fitness levels. Mercedes driver Valterri Bottas has gone to Finland, where the population is very low and he's skiing to stay fit. Mclaren driver Carlos Sainz has gone back home to Madrid where he has a gym set up. Everyone is just trying to make it work somehow. It's harder for the Olympic athletes because they spend four years aiming to peak at a certain point. So I feel bad for track and field athletes because they would have prepared to peak for Tokyo 2020, and now it has been postponed by more than a year. So it must be a huge challenge for them to adapt to the new schedule. DSD: Pankaj Advani says when sport resumes there will be a level playing field for initially a few months as most will be rusty due to lack of practice.do you see that happening in F1 considering that no development has been going on since Melbourne? KC: This where the organisational level of a team or a federation comes into play. For example, as soon as the lockdown happened, Red Bull sent their driver Alex Albon all kinds of equipment which would help him train at home. So various simulation tools were sent to ensure that he kept sharp and kept training. So the preparation of the teams who are managed well will not be affected greatly at this time. Pierre Gassly is living with his trainer at the moment, so essentially they live like a family.this is when the well-run Olympic or sporting federations will be able to help their athletes because that's what the job of any sporting body is. DSD: Now at the beginning, I did say that F1 sort of is acknowledged as a snobbish sport but teams have been working to produce breathing kits and other equipment to battle pandemic. KC: There are many ways in which the F1 is helping. Seven of the teams in the UK have come together for an initiative called 'project pitlane' which has been set up to manufacture medical equipment. Mercedes have manufactured a C-Pap machine, which helps coronavirus patients with lung infections breathe more easily. But what is really great that Mercedes have made the design and specifications available on an 'open source' basis. So that means that anyone can take the design to medical equipment manufacturers anywhere in the world, and they can produce the same machine, which will hopefully help those in need. I think this is a fantastic initiative by Mercedes. The other teams are working on creating ventilator systems. I was speaking to one of the engineers the other day, and he said that British military was actually working on the design for these set of ventilators for two years, but they were not able to put together a final product. But the F1 engineers have been able to turn that working design into a product that is ready for testing on patients, in just two weeks. So that gives you an idea about the speed at which these F1 engineers work. They see a problem at one race and that has to be solved in two weeks time for the next Grand Prix. So when you get the heads of engineers from the seven teams together, that is what they are capable of. DSD: Want to end this by asking you what you think about the virtual races and do we get to see you competing in one of them? KC: The virtual races are fun, but what you will notice is those who are participating either have no children or have children who they can keep occupied with toys and other activities. I, on the other hand, have 16 month old- whose nickname is captain chaos and doesn't sit still for a moment. If I had a gaming pod, he would be grabbing at it and not let me complete the race. So I think I'll have to wait for at least a couple more years before I can take part in the virtual races.

Exclusive: 'Formula One is no different, everyone is in same boat' - Karun Chandhok opens up on halted F1 season, life in lockdown and more

With the world of sport coming to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons, who otherwise would have been on the road because of their busy schedule, have been restricted to train indoors. Almost the entire world is under lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus which has led to&nbsp;149 deaths with over 5.000 positive cases in India. Events like the Tokyo Olympics, Wimbledon, EURO among others have been either postponed or cancelled given the current scenario surrounding the deadly virus.&nbsp;

In an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, 23-time World Champion Pankaj Advani spoke on the situation surrounding COVID-19, finding new perspective during tough times, how he is spending his time in lockdown, why people need to be more sensible and sensitive in these times and much more.

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Digvijay Singh Deo: Pankaj, thanks for taking out time for this. When I called you last evening you were playing a board game with your brother Shree. So that’s the lockdown mantra for you...

Pankaj: Absolutely, this is the time which we can use to bond with the family. Since we have to stay indoors, we are getting to do those things which we otherwise wouldn't do because we're so busy in the rat race. So we can spend some quality time with the family and indulge ourselves in board games, movies and books, something we probably miss out on a daily basis when life is normal.

My niece is winning the board game battle, kids these days are really smart and you have to hand it to them. It's good to lose sometimes and win in the real world where it really matters.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-was-devastated-to-hear-about-wimbledon-cancellation-rohan-bopanna-opens-up-on-fate-of-tennis-season-relief-package-for-players-and-more-291185" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Was devastated to hear about Wimbledon cancellation' - Rohan Bopanna opens up on fate of tennis season, relief package for players and more</a>

DSD: I have been speaking to a lot of Indian sportspersons during the lockdown. These are unprecedented times with the global sporting calendar wiped out. Everything is shut and perhaps it is in this absence that we learn to appreciate why we love sports so much...

Pankaj: This lockdown has given us a lot of perspectives. We are now truly appreciating the things that we take for granted, not just in sport, but life in general. We now understand the value of household chores, something which we conveniently tried to avoid in the past. There is a newfound respect for our house help and other family members. We also have to lend a helping hand now and ensure that we do our duty. We must respect and understand the kind of effort our house help and family members put in to make our lives comfortable.&nbsp;

When it comes to the world of sport, of course, we are missing the action and we will it value it even more once it returns. But at the moment it is very uncertain when competitive sport will return, it could be 6 months or even a year before we see any action. However I feel that we're fighting something that is bigger than sport, so each and every person has to contribute in some way to defeat the coronavirus.

<img alt="Exclusive | Pankaj Advani in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9c061c8a-befd-4220-a377-918c875c7134" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del225666.jpg" />

DSD: Look at it, it's not just the iconic events such as the Monaco GP, Wimbledon and the Olympics that have been cancelled. Your sport too has seen cancellations...

Pankaj: In terms of cue sports, we had the Asian Snooker Championships and team events slated for the first half of April, which was obviously cancelled. It is unfortunate that so many major events like Wimbledon or the Olympics are being cancelled or pushed back. But as I mentioned, it is understandable given the current scenario and we will get another chance to compete in the future.

In sport, the worst that can happen in sport is that you lose, but you will always get another chance unless you're retiring. But there are no second chances in life and we are fighting for survival. Our priorities have to be health and safety at the moment. If we don't take this virus seriously, we may not even get the chance to witness or compete in sporting events in the future.

So must fight this virus together as a community and get through this crisis as quickly as possible.

DSD: I spoke to boxing legend Mary Kom the other day, and even she said that there are more important things right now than a sport...

Pankaj: Absolutely. It gives us so much perspective, this time that we have to ourselves, it makes us understand the most important things in life. In India, we have a famous saying ' roti, kapda, makaan’, and that holds true now. All we really need is food, shelter and clothing.

It might be a very simplistic approach to life at the moment, but maybe this was also part of nature's plan. At some point the correction had to be made, the unfortunate thing is that so many deaths are taking place and so many people are suffering all the world. My heartfelt condolences to all those families who are going through these times.

But a lot of important lessons can be learned from this ongoing crisis, to appreciate what we have and also to adapt as humans, because in some way this is the new normal now. Nobody would have thought that we would spend weeks or months in the confines of our four walls. But this situation has taught us some very important lessons and I think we have become better human beings.

ALSO READ :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-we-are-all-in-it-together-mary-kom-opens-up-on-covid-19-pandemic-olympic-gold-dream-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290909">Exclusive: 'We are all in it together' - Mary Kom opens up on COVID-19 pandemic, Olympic gold dream, life in lockdown and more</a>

DSD: The virus has taught us that there is a way to stay indoors and limit yourself, it has sort of hit a reset button for all of us. And also reminded us of the importance of constant adaptation...

Pankaj: It is time to introspect and look within ourselves rather than always chasing external or material goals. We must also reflect on the tough times that we are going through right now. We as athletes must contribute in any which way we can. I'm also fortunate that I am in a position to contribute in whatever way I can to those in need.

The real heroes in these times are the doctors, nurses, the support staff and police, who have been putting their health at risk to protect others. My heartfelt gratitude to all those people who are on the front-line battling the virus to save our lives.

<img alt="Exclusive | Pankaj Advani in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea1d67e9-b0bf-495e-aaa3-b83b63b6e8f0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del225668.jpg" />

DSD: Lots of videos emerging of animals reclaiming what was once theirs, really is fascinating to see them roam around without a fear in towns next to forests...like those disaster movies we see...

Pankaj: It's been such a massive change for all of us. It may be a message from nature to all humans to pause, reflect and make a change. It is great to see animals reclaiming their spaces, you see dolphins in Venice or even off the coast in Mumbai. It's great to see peacocks roaming around, the environment has become much purer and clean. Despite the crisis, there have been mostly positive vibes around the world. I think we have interfered with nature too much and as a result of meddling with the natural environment and order, we are paying the price. 
It is unfortunate but it probably had to happen, a lot of astrologers predicted this. But now the focus is to get back on our feet and learn our lessons from this massive crisis. We as humans must learn to live with other species and not disturb their natural order.

DSD: But as society punks, are we disciplined. Misbehaving with doctors, candlelight marches despite calls to stay at home. Governments, doctors, healthcare, police ...people are putting lives at risk to keep the country running but not everyone gets the gravity of the situation...

Pankaj: I think a lot of us need to understand the consequences of us not following the government guidelines. It was only last night, that I saw a video posted by Salman Khan, where he was saying that he was scared of the virus, but he also added that it was probably a good thing, because the more we are afraid of the disease, the more precautions we will take to not get infected. 
The rate at which the virus spreads is exponential, so it is not just about getting saving yourself from getting infected, it's about ensuring that the community at large is protected. We also have to rise above our petty differences, we must not discriminate on the basis of religion, caste, class or race. It doesn't matter if you’re black or white, rich or poor, this virus can get anyone, even if you're the prime minister of a country, you can contract the virus, and we have seen examples of it with Boris Johnson falling ill.

The virus in a way is a great leveller, everyone has to take precautions against it, regardless of your status in society. As responsible citizens of not only our country but the world, we have to ensure that we cause as little harm as possible to humanity, we also have to look out and take care of our fellow humans and even animals, because they too are getting affected by the virus.

DSD:&nbsp;I have friends who do not go out to buy groceries because they are from the northeast and there are racial taunts coming their way. That’s the sad bit isn’t it even Jwala Gutta spoke about the same and sometimes situations like these bring out the worst in people...

Pankaj: It is so unfortunate that these incidents are taking place. We have to understand the fact that we are fighting a much bigger enemy, if we do that then we will not get into these petty and irrelevant arguments and we'll stop holding each other responsible for the spread of the virus. 
It is sad that people are still not following the government's guidelines, we have seen so many religious meetings take place, even seeing people bursting crackers the other day was unfortunate. I would appeal to the public to maintain physical distancing, the reason I don't call it social distancing is because we can still be connected through technology. We are actually fighting this together, but the irony is we are doing so being away from each other. The more physically apart we are from each other, the more chances we have of winning this battle.

<img alt="Exclusive | Pankaj Advani in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2268c033-bdea-4a54-8ac0-c7fa8a536922" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV132057.jpg" />

DSD: How important is the role of prominent sportspersons like you in times like these?

Pankaj:&nbsp;Sport is all about following the rules and exercising fair play. Sportsmanship is about competing on the same platform, and being fair to each individual. People tend to look up to sportspersons because we follow the rules very strictly and are extremely disciplined. So as athletes we can urge the public to strictly adhere to the guidelines set by the government and the world health organisation. So not only athletes, any influential person has a responsibility to spread positive messages during the lockdown, so that we get through this as quickly as possible.

DSD: If I could use the word, you are a slave to practice. That’s one of the reasons for your success. I spoke to Mary Kom and she said that even at 37 what keeps her going against the much younger opponents is her training regime. No holding back during training sessions. But since you don't have a billiards table at home, how do you plan to overcome this problem?

Pankaj: So you know how the saying goes - 'stay home, say safe', the rule for me is to 'stay home and play safe'. For me not playing at all during this period is staying safe. To be honest every athlete is going to be so rusty when he or she gets back to competing. The lack of training and staying indoors will obviously hugely affect performance. I don't even know if any international competition will take place this year. Even in my sport, I’m not sure what will happen, the only silver lining is that I will get to be defending world champion for another year if there are no more tournaments.&nbsp;

On a serious note, every athlete is going to come into the arena with a more grateful approach, and every athlete has to accept and adapt to the situation. So when we get back I think we might see a fairer dignified approach towards sport, which means that people might not resort to unethical means while competing to win. But as I said before right now there are much bigger things to fight against. I do believe that we will come out of this stronger as human beings and this will make us better individuals, ultimately humanity will win. We must support one another and I appeal to everyone to stay home, stay safe and save lives. 
&nbsp;

With the world of sport coming to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons, who otherwise would have been on the road because of their busy schedule, have been restricted to train indoors.

With the world of sport coming to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons, who otherwise would have been on the road because of their busy schedule, have been restricted to train indoors. Almost the entire world is under lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus which has led to 149 deaths with over 5.000 positive cases in India. Events like the Tokyo Olympics, Wimbledon, EURO among others have been either postponed or cancelled given the current scenario surrounding the deadly virus. In an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, 23-time World Champion Pankaj Advani spoke on the situation surrounding COVID-19, finding new perspective during tough times, how he is spending his time in lockdown, why people need to be more sensible and sensitive in these times and much more. × Digvijay Singh Deo: Pankaj, thanks for taking out time for this. When I called you last evening you were playing a board game with your brother Shree. So that’s the lockdown mantra for you... Pankaj: Absolutely, this is the time which we can use to bond with the family. Since we have to stay indoors, we are getting to do those things which we otherwise wouldn't do because we're so busy in the rat race. So we can spend some quality time with the family and indulge ourselves in board games, movies and books, something we probably miss out on a daily basis when life is normal. My niece is winning the board game battle, kids these days are really smart and you have to hand it to them. It's good to lose sometimes and win in the real world where it really matters. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Was devastated to hear about Wimbledon cancellation' - Rohan Bopanna opens up on fate of tennis season, relief package for players and more DSD: I have been speaking to a lot of Indian sportspersons during the lockdown. These are unprecedented times with the global sporting calendar wiped out. Everything is shut and perhaps it is in this absence that we learn to appreciate why we love sports so much... Pankaj: This lockdown has given us a lot of perspectives. We are now truly appreciating the things that we take for granted, not just in sport, but life in general. We now understand the value of household chores, something which we conveniently tried to avoid in the past. There is a newfound respect for our house help and other family members. We also have to lend a helping hand now and ensure that we do our duty. We must respect and understand the kind of effort our house help and family members put in to make our lives comfortable. When it comes to the world of sport, of course, we are missing the action and we will it value it even more once it returns. But at the moment it is very uncertain when competitive sport will return, it could be 6 months or even a year before we see any action. However I feel that we're fighting something that is bigger than sport, so each and every person has to contribute in some way to defeat the coronavirus. DSD: Look at it, it's not just the iconic events such as the Monaco GP, Wimbledon and the Olympics that have been cancelled. Your sport too has seen cancellations... Pankaj: In terms of cue sports, we had the Asian Snooker Championships and team events slated for the first half of April, which was obviously cancelled. It is unfortunate that so many major events like Wimbledon or the Olympics are being cancelled or pushed back. But as I mentioned, it is understandable given the current scenario and we will get another chance to compete in the future. In sport, the worst that can happen in sport is that you lose, but you will always get another chance unless you're retiring. But there are no second chances in life and we are fighting for survival. Our priorities have to be health and safety at the moment. If we don't take this virus seriously, we may not even get the chance to witness or compete in sporting events in the future. So must fight this virus together as a community and get through this crisis as quickly as possible. DSD: I spoke to boxing legend Mary Kom the other day, and even she said that there are more important things right now than a sport... Pankaj: Absolutely. It gives us so much perspective, this time that we have to ourselves, it makes us understand the most important things in life. In India, we have a famous saying ' roti, kapda, makaan’, and that holds true now. All we really need is food, shelter and clothing. It might be a very simplistic approach to life at the moment, but maybe this was also part of nature's plan. At some point the correction had to be made, the unfortunate thing is that so many deaths are taking place and so many people are suffering all the world. My heartfelt condolences to all those families who are going through these times. But a lot of important lessons can be learned from this ongoing crisis, to appreciate what we have and also to adapt as humans, because in some way this is the new normal now. Nobody would have thought that we would spend weeks or months in the confines of our four walls. But this situation has taught us some very important lessons and I think we have become better human beings. ALSO READ : Exclusive: 'We are all in it together' - Mary Kom opens up on COVID-19 pandemic, Olympic gold dream, life in lockdown and more DSD: The virus has taught us that there is a way to stay indoors and limit yourself, it has sort of hit a reset button for all of us. And also reminded us of the importance of constant adaptation... Pankaj: It is time to introspect and look within ourselves rather than always chasing external or material goals. We must also reflect on the tough times that we are going through right now. We as athletes must contribute in any which way we can. I'm also fortunate that I am in a position to contribute in whatever way I can to those in need. The real heroes in these times are the doctors, nurses, the support staff and police, who have been putting their health at risk to protect others. My heartfelt gratitude to all those people who are on the front-line battling the virus to save our lives. DSD: Lots of videos emerging of animals reclaiming what was once theirs, really is fascinating to see them roam around without a fear in towns next to forests...like those disaster movies we see... Pankaj: It's been such a massive change for all of us. It may be a message from nature to all humans to pause, reflect and make a change. It is great to see animals reclaiming their spaces, you see dolphins in Venice or even off the coast in Mumbai. It's great to see peacocks roaming around, the environment has become much purer and clean. Despite the crisis, there have been mostly positive vibes around the world. I think we have interfered with nature too much and as a result of meddling with the natural environment and order, we are paying the price. It is unfortunate but it probably had to happen, a lot of astrologers predicted this. But now the focus is to get back on our feet and learn our lessons from this massive crisis. We as humans must learn to live with other species and not disturb their natural order. DSD: But as society punks, are we disciplined. Misbehaving with doctors, candlelight marches despite calls to stay at home. Governments, doctors, healthcare, police ...people are putting lives at risk to keep the country running but not everyone gets the gravity of the situation... Pankaj: I think a lot of us need to understand the consequences of us not following the government guidelines. It was only last night, that I saw a video posted by Salman Khan, where he was saying that he was scared of the virus, but he also added that it was probably a good thing, because the more we are afraid of the disease, the more precautions we will take to not get infected. The rate at which the virus spreads is exponential, so it is not just about getting saving yourself from getting infected, it's about ensuring that the community at large is protected. We also have to rise above our petty differences, we must not discriminate on the basis of religion, caste, class or race. It doesn't matter if you’re black or white, rich or poor, this virus can get anyone, even if you're the prime minister of a country, you can contract the virus, and we have seen examples of it with Boris Johnson falling ill. The virus in a way is a great leveller, everyone has to take precautions against it, regardless of your status in society. As responsible citizens of not only our country but the world, we have to ensure that we cause as little harm as possible to humanity, we also have to look out and take care of our fellow humans and even animals, because they too are getting affected by the virus. DSD: I have friends who do not go out to buy groceries because they are from the northeast and there are racial taunts coming their way. That’s the sad bit isn’t it even Jwala Gutta spoke about the same and sometimes situations like these bring out the worst in people... Pankaj: It is so unfortunate that these incidents are taking place. We have to understand the fact that we are fighting a much bigger enemy, if we do that then we will not get into these petty and irrelevant arguments and we'll stop holding each other responsible for the spread of the virus. It is sad that people are still not following the government's guidelines, we have seen so many religious meetings take place, even seeing people bursting crackers the other day was unfortunate. I would appeal to the public to maintain physical distancing, the reason I don't call it social distancing is because we can still be connected through technology. We are actually fighting this together, but the irony is we are doing so being away from each other. The more physically apart we are from each other, the more chances we have of winning this battle. DSD: How important is the role of prominent sportspersons like you in times like these? Pankaj: Sport is all about following the rules and exercising fair play. Sportsmanship is about competing on the same platform, and being fair to each individual. People tend to look up to sportspersons because we follow the rules very strictly and are extremely disciplined. So as athletes we can urge the public to strictly adhere to the guidelines set by the government and the world health organisation. So not only athletes, any influential person has a responsibility to spread positive messages during the lockdown, so that we get through this as quickly as possible. DSD: If I could use the word, you are a slave to practice. That’s one of the reasons for your success. I spoke to Mary Kom and she said that even at 37 what keeps her going against the much younger opponents is her training regime. No holding back during training sessions. But since you don't have a billiards table at home, how do you plan to overcome this problem? Pankaj: So you know how the saying goes - 'stay home, say safe', the rule for me is to 'stay home and play safe'. For me not playing at all during this period is staying safe. To be honest every athlete is going to be so rusty when he or she gets back to competing. The lack of training and staying indoors will obviously hugely affect performance. I don't even know if any international competition will take place this year. Even in my sport, I’m not sure what will happen, the only silver lining is that I will get to be defending world champion for another year if there are no more tournaments. On a serious note, every athlete is going to come into the arena with a more grateful approach, and every athlete has to accept and adapt to the situation. So when we get back I think we might see a fairer dignified approach towards sport, which means that people might not resort to unethical means while competing to win. But as I said before right now there are much bigger things to fight against. I do believe that we will come out of this stronger as human beings and this will make us better individuals, ultimately humanity will win. We must support one another and I appeal to everyone to stay home, stay safe and save lives.

Exclusive: 'It is time to introspect' - Pankaj Advani opens up on COVID-19 situation, lockdown, sporting calendar and more

With sporting calendar ripped into pieces due to COVID-19 pandemic, athletes have been restricted to train indoors amid the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly virus. While the ongoing crisis has led to the cancellation or postponement of many high-profile tournaments, tennis is one of the sports to be hampered most by the dreaded virus. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 has been shifted to 2021 as well.

As sportspersons continue to find new ways to keep themselves in top shape and busy, Grand Slam champion, an Olympic semi-finalist, recipient of Arjuna Award and the reigning Asian Games gold medalist in men’s doubles, Rohan Bopanna, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo spoke about how he is spending his time at his ancestral place in Coorg, how tough is to maintain peak fitness without being able to train outdoors, how's his partnership with Sania Mirza is shaping up again, decision to postpone Tokyo Olympics and much more...&nbsp;

Digvijay Singh Deo: Rohan, it is fate isn’t it? Here we are locked up and there you are in your ancestral place...

Rohan Bopanna: Thanks very much Digvijay for having me on this special broadcast. Yes, I am in Coorg at my grandparents' place. I must say I’m fortunate to be in this part of the country during the lockdown.

We have our coffee plantation here, so I go for a run in the morning around the area. Just to be able to walk around this lovely estate is a pleasure. Coffee blossoms are in full swing so its a beautiful site. I don't often get the chance to be here that often, so it's really nice to be here and spend time with the family.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-we-are-all-in-it-together-mary-kom-opens-up-on-covid-19-pandemic-olympic-gold-dream-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290909" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'We are all in it together' - Mary Kom opens up on COVID-19 pandemic, Olympic gold dream, life in lockdown and more</a>

DSD: Coffee is something which is your passion these days so is that how you are spending your time in Coorg, figuring out new blends?

Rohan: Yes actually I have been exploring new types of coffees. One of my colleagues has come out with a new cold brew series. So I thought I’ll try it out as well because it is very simple to execute. My mother also likes to experiment with coffee liqueur, so she had dried some apricots three months ago, so I put it in the cold brew and it gave the coffee a real good taste. So it's a good time to try something different and explore new things. My sister was also here and I tried my hand at cooking some dishes with her, so overall it's been really fun.

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="126d58d5-0952-438e-9b58-382b6871b2a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1IE4GI.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;Now when the lockdown started in various parts of the world you were on India duty weren’t you returning from Croatia after the Davis Cup tie. You had a harrowing time getting back home. The virus doesn’t differentiate between fit sportspersons like you and unfit journalists like me. It is like a reset button has been hit around the world...

Rohan: I think you're one of the few fit sports journalists out there. But on a serious note, when I was leaving Croatia, I was actually going to Los Angeles via Doha. However, just an hour or so before our flight to la from Doha, we found out that the Indian wells tournament had been cancelled. We landed in Doha at about 11:30 pm on the 8th of march and our flight to LA was in the morning.

Even though we had a transit hotel booked, we couldn't leave the airport because the immigration authorities announced that citizens of certain countries- including India- would not be allowed to leave the airport premises. So obviously when we found out the Indian wells cancellation, we booked our flights to India, but our flight was at 8 pm on the next day. So we were stranded at the airport for almost 20 hours. But fortunately, the airport had a gym and a pool, so we used that and tried to keep ourselves busy.

But looking back, I’m glad that I found out about the Indian wells cancellation before our 16-hour flight to la, because it would have been a bigger problem if had reached the USA and then got to know about the suspension.

DSD: I was speaking to Mahesh Bhupathi last week and he was telling us how difficult it is to maintain peak fitness during a period like this. How are you managing? Do you have a tennis court there in Coorg?

Rohan: I think Mahesh has made a valid point, but another problem for us players is that we don't know when the tour will resume, it is very tough to prepare for the season when there is so much uncertainty around the restart. You can practice at home as much as you can, it's difficult to reach that peak fitness. There is a tennis court very close to my house in a club, but that is closed due to the lockdown so I can't use it.

I practice in my front yard with my niece and nephew for about an hour every day, giving them some lessons, they also play` at my academy in Bangalore. But coming back to the schedule, I think health and safety is everyone's number one priority at the moment. Once the global situation improves, then we can speak about the scheduling of the season and I think we will have enough time to prepare.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-virus-rewriting-history-books-in-tennis-mahesh-bhupathi-opens-up-on-wimbledon-cancellation-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290212" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more</a>

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="655ea556-3c46-4eed-b979-1efd42bfa51c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1NL7PA.jpg" />

DSD: Do you have any indication as to when the tennis season can resume with clay and the grass-court season is now gone?

Rohan: It is definitely hard that we're missing all these tournaments. I personally enjoy playing on grass, so I was devastated to hear about the Wimbledon cancellation. But as athletes we cannot control any of these things, they are not in our hands. So we have to understand the situation and adapt to it. Health and safety is the priority at the moment and we have to follow the government's guidelines. This is not just a problem for tennis, it is a global crisis. So once the circumstances improve, then we will see things return to normalcy and things are no different for tennis. So think we need to be a little patient and hope for the best. Every person in the world has been affected by the COVID-19 virus.

DSD: Has this sudden break given you a new perspective about your career, considering how volatile things are? Have you drawn up a list of want to do before I retire?

Rohan: When an athlete is still playing, the thought process behind retirement is different. You take that decision when you are mentally prepared. Overnight when such a thing happens, it is difficult to reflect on your career. Yes, there is a new perspective because you're constantly thinking about something or the other. As the proverb goes, an idle mind is a devil's workshop. But the good things is that my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful baby daughter 10 months ago and we are fortunate that we are getting this time to spend with her.

DSD: Now the Olympics too have been postponed Rohan, you and Sania Mirza reached the medal round last time in Rio. Sania has just returned to the courts and now with some extra time do you think this will play into your hands?

Rohan: Yes we definitely have more time to prepare for the Olympics, but that time would only have been useful if we were playing. As you said, Sania has made her comeback, but she has not been able to really work on her game for the past month or so and same is the case with me. 
So the preparation all depends on when the tour starts, and I think we're going to lose at least another few months before it can resume. So the time would have helped if we were competing, but given the current situation, I don't think it makes much of a difference.

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b21435de-494a-4b90-9cc1-a78153a7c528" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV986388.jpg" />

DSD: Rio was your second games after London and both Olympics have been rather tumultuous in the buildup. But what do the Olympics mean for a sportsperson who competes in it?

Rohan: Firstly, I think it was the right decision to postpone the games, it was tough on some of the athletes who had already secured their spot for the games. But at this juncture, no other option was available.

Representing your country at the Olympics is the pinnacle of any sportsperson's career. It is a proud moment to be playing for your country at any event, let alone the Olympics. An athlete works so hard to reach that level and to be able to compete at that stage is something special. Even though I have participated in two games, I am so excited for the Tokyo Olympics and hopefully, I will be part of it. It just doesn't get bigger for an athlete than representing your country at the Olympics.

DSD: There is talk of the ATP and WTA tours coming up with some sort of relief package. The British Tennis Association has already announced something for players in the UK. What are you expecting from the tours, Rohan?

Rohan: It is very tough for every tennis player out there. It is like losing a job overnight. Some players might have been better prepared for this situation financially than others, that is obvious.

So far the ATP has no concrete plan in place to provide relief packages for the players. As players, there has been no communication from the ATP on the matter. But to be fair to the ATP as well, this is a completely unprecedented situation. Not just the financial aspect of it, they also have to decide on what to do with the rankings system. &nbsp;I think the ATP will come up with the right solution, it will definitely take some time, but they will certainly try to help the players as much as they can.

DSD: Mahesh was telling me that some of the Indian players will struggle if the tour does not resume. How dire is the situation across the world as you all earn a livelihood through the sport?

Rohan: Absolutely it is very difficult for the Indian players. At the moment I think it is best for the players to not overthink it too much, just settle into a routine take every day as it comes. But then again, they can't control these things, so hopefully, this phase will pass and things will get sorted out quickly.

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84f28a9c-0a36-42db-908a-d416a606f650" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_PD4CU.jpg" />

DSD: A possibility exists of playing behind closed doors. Do you agree with that suggestion, as some money could flow into the player's pockets?

Rohan: I definitely am against the idea of playing behind closed doors. Events in tennis are not held in one country or one city, the tour takes place all around the world. So a lot more preparation goes in, the rules and regulations of each country also have to be kept in mind. In most countries, people will have to be quarantined once they reach. So due to the uncertainty surrounding all events at this time, I think it will be the wrong decision to allow tennis to be held behind closed doors.

The health and safety of each and every individual has to come first and we cannot endanger anyone in the world.

DSD: You were part of the video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago. What role can sportspersons play during times of crisis like this?

Rohan: First of all, it was inspiring for all the sportspersons who got a chance to speak to the prime minister. I am grateful for him to reach out to us during these times and ensure that our voices were heard. The Indian athletes have inspired so many people in the country, and getting all of them on board really sends the right message to the people.

Even if we can spread awareness to say 1 or 2 % of the population, then that is a good start. So it was a great initiative by the prime minister and the sports minister and it was special to share the platform with them and 50 other sportspersons. I'm glad that I could be part of such a cause. 
&nbsp;

With sporting calendar ripped into pieces due to COVID-19 pandemic, athletes have been restricted to train indoors amid the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

With sporting calendar ripped into pieces due to COVID-19 pandemic, athletes have been restricted to train indoors amid the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly virus. While the ongoing crisis has led to the cancellation or postponement of many high-profile tournaments, tennis is one of the sports to be hampered most by the dreaded virus. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 has been shifted to 2021 as well. As sportspersons continue to find new ways to keep themselves in top shape and busy, Grand Slam champion, an Olympic semi-finalist, recipient of Arjuna Award and the reigning Asian Games gold medalist in men’s doubles, Rohan Bopanna, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo spoke about how he is spending his time at his ancestral place in Coorg, how tough is to maintain peak fitness without being able to train outdoors, how's his partnership with Sania Mirza is shaping up again, decision to postpone Tokyo Olympics and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Rohan, it is fate isn’t it? Here we are locked up and there you are in your ancestral place... Rohan Bopanna: Thanks very much Digvijay for having me on this special broadcast. Yes, I am in Coorg at my grandparents' place. I must say I’m fortunate to be in this part of the country during the lockdown. We have our coffee plantation here, so I go for a run in the morning around the area. Just to be able to walk around this lovely estate is a pleasure. Coffee blossoms are in full swing so its a beautiful site. I don't often get the chance to be here that often, so it's really nice to be here and spend time with the family. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'We are all in it together' - Mary Kom opens up on COVID-19 pandemic, Olympic gold dream, life in lockdown and more DSD: Coffee is something which is your passion these days so is that how you are spending your time in Coorg, figuring out new blends? Rohan: Yes actually I have been exploring new types of coffees. One of my colleagues has come out with a new cold brew series. So I thought I’ll try it out as well because it is very simple to execute. My mother also likes to experiment with coffee liqueur, so she had dried some apricots three months ago, so I put it in the cold brew and it gave the coffee a real good taste. So it's a good time to try something different and explore new things. My sister was also here and I tried my hand at cooking some dishes with her, so overall it's been really fun. DSD: Now when the lockdown started in various parts of the world you were on India duty weren’t you returning from Croatia after the Davis Cup tie. You had a harrowing time getting back home. The virus doesn’t differentiate between fit sportspersons like you and unfit journalists like me. It is like a reset button has been hit around the world... Rohan: I think you're one of the few fit sports journalists out there. But on a serious note, when I was leaving Croatia, I was actually going to Los Angeles via Doha. However, just an hour or so before our flight to la from Doha, we found out that the Indian wells tournament had been cancelled. We landed in Doha at about 11:30 pm on the 8th of march and our flight to LA was in the morning. Even though we had a transit hotel booked, we couldn't leave the airport because the immigration authorities announced that citizens of certain countries- including India- would not be allowed to leave the airport premises. So obviously when we found out the Indian wells cancellation, we booked our flights to India, but our flight was at 8 pm on the next day. So we were stranded at the airport for almost 20 hours. But fortunately, the airport had a gym and a pool, so we used that and tried to keep ourselves busy. But looking back, I’m glad that I found out about the Indian wells cancellation before our 16-hour flight to la, because it would have been a bigger problem if had reached the USA and then got to know about the suspension. DSD: I was speaking to Mahesh Bhupathi last week and he was telling us how difficult it is to maintain peak fitness during a period like this. How are you managing? Do you have a tennis court there in Coorg? Rohan: I think Mahesh has made a valid point, but another problem for us players is that we don't know when the tour will resume, it is very tough to prepare for the season when there is so much uncertainty around the restart. You can practice at home as much as you can, it's difficult to reach that peak fitness. There is a tennis court very close to my house in a club, but that is closed due to the lockdown so I can't use it. I practice in my front yard with my niece and nephew for about an hour every day, giving them some lessons, they also play` at my academy in Bangalore. But coming back to the schedule, I think health and safety is everyone's number one priority at the moment. Once the global situation improves, then we can speak about the scheduling of the season and I think we will have enough time to prepare. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more DSD: Do you have any indication as to when the tennis season can resume with clay and the grass-court season is now gone? Rohan: It is definitely hard that we're missing all these tournaments. I personally enjoy playing on grass, so I was devastated to hear about the Wimbledon cancellation. But as athletes we cannot control any of these things, they are not in our hands. So we have to understand the situation and adapt to it. Health and safety is the priority at the moment and we have to follow the government's guidelines. This is not just a problem for tennis, it is a global crisis. So once the circumstances improve, then we will see things return to normalcy and things are no different for tennis. So think we need to be a little patient and hope for the best. Every person in the world has been affected by the COVID-19 virus. DSD: Has this sudden break given you a new perspective about your career, considering how volatile things are? Have you drawn up a list of want to do before I retire? Rohan: When an athlete is still playing, the thought process behind retirement is different. You take that decision when you are mentally prepared. Overnight when such a thing happens, it is difficult to reflect on your career. Yes, there is a new perspective because you're constantly thinking about something or the other. As the proverb goes, an idle mind is a devil's workshop. But the good things is that my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful baby daughter 10 months ago and we are fortunate that we are getting this time to spend with her. DSD: Now the Olympics too have been postponed Rohan, you and Sania Mirza reached the medal round last time in Rio. Sania has just returned to the courts and now with some extra time do you think this will play into your hands? Rohan: Yes we definitely have more time to prepare for the Olympics, but that time would only have been useful if we were playing. As you said, Sania has made her comeback, but she has not been able to really work on her game for the past month or so and same is the case with me. So the preparation all depends on when the tour starts, and I think we're going to lose at least another few months before it can resume. So the time would have helped if we were competing, but given the current situation, I don't think it makes much of a difference. DSD: Rio was your second games after London and both Olympics have been rather tumultuous in the buildup. But what do the Olympics mean for a sportsperson who competes in it? Rohan: Firstly, I think it was the right decision to postpone the games, it was tough on some of the athletes who had already secured their spot for the games. But at this juncture, no other option was available. Representing your country at the Olympics is the pinnacle of any sportsperson's career. It is a proud moment to be playing for your country at any event, let alone the Olympics. An athlete works so hard to reach that level and to be able to compete at that stage is something special. Even though I have participated in two games, I am so excited for the Tokyo Olympics and hopefully, I will be part of it. It just doesn't get bigger for an athlete than representing your country at the Olympics. DSD: There is talk of the ATP and WTA tours coming up with some sort of relief package. The British Tennis Association has already announced something for players in the UK. What are you expecting from the tours, Rohan? Rohan: It is very tough for every tennis player out there. It is like losing a job overnight. Some players might have been better prepared for this situation financially than others, that is obvious. So far the ATP has no concrete plan in place to provide relief packages for the players. As players, there has been no communication from the ATP on the matter. But to be fair to the ATP as well, this is a completely unprecedented situation. Not just the financial aspect of it, they also have to decide on what to do with the rankings system. I think the ATP will come up with the right solution, it will definitely take some time, but they will certainly try to help the players as much as they can. DSD: Mahesh was telling me that some of the Indian players will struggle if the tour does not resume. How dire is the situation across the world as you all earn a livelihood through the sport? Rohan: Absolutely it is very difficult for the Indian players. At the moment I think it is best for the players to not overthink it too much, just settle into a routine take every day as it comes. But then again, they can't control these things, so hopefully, this phase will pass and things will get sorted out quickly. DSD: A possibility exists of playing behind closed doors. Do you agree with that suggestion, as some money could flow into the player's pockets? Rohan: I definitely am against the idea of playing behind closed doors. Events in tennis are not held in one country or one city, the tour takes place all around the world. So a lot more preparation goes in, the rules and regulations of each country also have to be kept in mind. In most countries, people will have to be quarantined once they reach. So due to the uncertainty surrounding all events at this time, I think it will be the wrong decision to allow tennis to be held behind closed doors. The health and safety of each and every individual has to come first and we cannot endanger anyone in the world. DSD: You were part of the video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago. What role can sportspersons play during times of crisis like this? Rohan: First of all, it was inspiring for all the sportspersons who got a chance to speak to the prime minister. I am grateful for him to reach out to us during these times and ensure that our voices were heard. The Indian athletes have inspired so many people in the country, and getting all of them on board really sends the right message to the people. Even if we can spread awareness to say 1 or 2 % of the population, then that is a good start. So it was a great initiative by the prime minister and the sports minister and it was special to share the platform with them and 50 other sportspersons. I'm glad that I could be part of such a cause.

Exclusive: 'Was devastated to hear about Wimbledon cancellation' - Rohan Bopanna opens up on fate of tennis season, relief package for players and more

Boxing was one of the first sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Asian Qualifiers in Wuhan, China was cancelled in the first week of February before rescheduling the qualifiers in Jordan. The entire sporting calendar has been ripped apart by the dreaded virus while restricting all the athletes to train indoors during the country-wide lockdown, which was imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19.&nbsp;

Six-time World Boxing champion and the recipient of Padma Vibhushan, MC Mary Kom, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from Olympic qualifiers, training in Italy during COVID-19 outbreak, dream of Olympic gold, how she is spending time in lockdown and much more.

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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-sports-is-not-important-than-life-kidambi-srikanth-opens-up-on-olympics-dream-recent-form-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290439" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Sports is not important than life' - Kidambi Srikanth opens up on Olympics dream, recent form, life in lockdown and more</a>

<o:p></o:p>

Digvijay Singh Deo:&nbsp;Mary, this must be a bittersweet moment for you. You won the Olympic quota and then within weeks, the announcement came through that the games were postponed.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

MC Mary Kom: The current situation with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic is not just a problem for the athletes, it is a problem for everyone, including the International Olympic Committee and the organisers of the Tokyo Games. Who wants to die? Our health comes first and I feel the right decision has been made by the IOC. No group or individual can be blamed for the current global crisis, we are all in it together. In the current climate, no athlete wants to put their lives at risk and compete at the Olympics. So the right decision was made.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

DSD: As professional athletes, one expects you to adapt to the situation but this must feel like a personal blow as well considering that you were in top shape leading up to the Olympics.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Mary: It is a challenge for everyone to work from home, as an athlete you will not be able to train properly due to the lack of facilities at home. But you have to adapt and work with what you have at home and make the best use of this time.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

But I have to follow the government's instructions and not go out at this time, because of the grave dangers of the COVID-19 disease. As an athlete, if I contract the virus not only will it be a health concern, I will also lose a lot of time during recovery.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;So it is best that we stay home and try to make the best use of this situation, which includes spending quality time with your family.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Mary Kom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0f511ab-8905-4f4b-b7b1-41ba97a4b97b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1B11JS.jpg" />

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

DSD: I think I must remind our viewers&nbsp;and readers that boxing was the first sport to suffer from the coronavirus pandemic as it was the Olympic Asian qualifiers in Wuhan that were cancelled in the first week of February. How difficult has the uncertainty been Mary especially in terms of rearranging training schedules?<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Mary: Somehow, we have to manage in this situation, an athlete needs to adapt. We will work with our coaches and federations. The Olympic qualifiers were moved from Wuhan, which was where the virus originated from, to Jordan. The change in schedule wasn't that challenging for us as we were already prepared for every situation.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

So we have already experienced tournaments being postponed. The challenge is maintaining your stamina and physical fitness in these times. The Indian boxers were excellent in the Jordan qualifiers, 5 men and 4 women secured their berth, so they adapted very well to the postponement and hopefully, that will continue in the future.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

DSD: You must be reading that Italy is now one of the worst affected countries due to the coronavirus and the Indian team trained there ahead of the rescheduled qualifiers in Amman. What precautions did you all follow when in Italy?<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Mary: I have to admit that we were a bit scared when we were in Italy. We were in a town called Assisi, fortunately, when we were there the virus had not reached the area yet. Cases were rapidly rising in northern Italy but things weren't as bad in Assisi. But naturally, we were scared because of the scale of the problem in the country. We were hearing rumours that those athletes who were training in Italy will not be able to participate in the Olympic qualifiers in Jordan.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

But I must say the Boxing Federation of India was very proactive in getting us to Jordan as soon as possible. The president, Ajay Singh, and the body did an excellent job in ensuring the safety of the boxers. There was a minor hiccup in our stopover in Frankfurt when we were going to Jordan. Some of the boxers and staff had to stay an extra day, but all that is in the past and the good thing is that all of us are here now in our homes.

<o:p><img alt="Mary Kom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8dadffbc-4534-4ecd-89d1-ed074676d187" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1B11AU.jpg" /></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

DSD: You are a fighter in every sense of the term. You won the Olympic medal in 2012 when women’s boxing made its debut at the games. You narrowly missed out on qualifying for Rio 2016 and you contemplated retiring. But you never gave up hope of that Olympic gold, made a successful comeback in 2017 at the Asian championships.is this the final battle of an extraordinary career, to keep yourself in top shape till the 2021 Olympics.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Mary: It is a huge challenge for me to stay in shape for the 2021 Olympics.it has been my dream to win a gold medal for the country at the Olympics. I thank the&nbsp;boxing&nbsp;federation of India from the bottom of my heart for their support. This Olympics is extremely important for me; I have all the medals in the world. The only one which is missing is the Olympic gold which I am desperate for. It is not easy for me to train at this age after so many years of competing at the highest level. It does take a toll on you, but I have confidence in my ability as a boxer and believe that I will be able to achieve that goal. I appeal to the people of India to support me in my quest for the gold medal. It is my dream to win the gold for my country and the people. That is my single objective for the 2021 Olympics.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

DSD: You are not getting younger and you face younger opponents each time you step into the ring. How do stay a step ahead of these young pretenders? What is the secret to your hunger and performance?<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Mary: The secret is training regularly. I train extremely hard for 4-5 days in a week. I don't miss any session and retain 100 per cent focus during training. Maintaining high concentration levels is essential to compete at the highest level at my age of 37. I am an extremely determined individual and God has blessed me with incredible will power. I try to execute my game plan for my next bout in the training sessions so that I am fully prepared for whatever my opponent throws at me. Strategic preparation is the key to success and you cannot ever take your foot off the pedal. I'm fortunate that I am in good shape and able to compete against the youngsters.

<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

<img alt="Mary Kom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c88df309-9754-48be-8818-5a40b794d2b3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1405HO.jpg" />

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

DSD: What is the schedule like at home nowadays, how are you keeping yourself fit during the lockdown?<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Mary: Other people might be putting on weight at home, but us athletes have to work out whenever we can. An athlete needs to adapt to whatever the circumstances are and must continue to train. I am fortunate that I have a gym facility set up at home, so I’m using that regularly. I have not missed a single day of training during this time at home. I'm delighted that I have a gym at home, so I don't need to go out during the lockdown for my sessions.so I’m at home, I’m happy and fit.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

DSD: Every dark cloud has a silver lining. For you is it getting to spend time with the family without any distractions.

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Mary:&nbsp;Yes, my 4 kids ensure that I get extra training sessions while I’m at home. For us it can sometimes get boring as we are following the same routine every day. But it is also important to think about the people who are suffering during the shutdown. The daily wage labourers are finding it extremely hard to maintain their livelihoods and I’m glad that the government is taking steps to ensure that they are not deprived of their basic needs.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

I appeal to everyone to support each other, we must follow the government instructions and not go out. If we fail to understand the gravity of the situation, then it will be a major problem, not only for us but also our future generations. So the best step to take to save yourself from getting infected is to stay home. Also for me personally if I get infected with the disease, i don't know if I will be able to make a comeback in my professional career. So I again appeal to everyone to stay home, stay healthy and sleep well. That is the best medical advice I can give you during these times. If we really want to defeat the coronavirus, we have to stay home and follow government instructions, like going out only when it is necessary, washing hands regularly and practice social distancing.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Boxing was one of the first sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Asian Qualifiers in Wuhan, China was cancelled in the first week of February before rescheduling the qualifiers in Jordan.

Boxing was one of the first sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Asian Qualifiers in Wuhan, China was cancelled in the first week of February before rescheduling the qualifiers in Jordan. The entire sporting calendar has been ripped apart by the dreaded virus while restricting all the athletes to train indoors during the country-wide lockdown, which was imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19. Six-time World Boxing champion and the recipient of Padma Vibhushan, MC Mary Kom, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from Olympic qualifiers, training in Italy during COVID-19 outbreak, dream of Olympic gold, how she is spending time in lockdown and much more. × ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Sports is not important than life' - Kidambi Srikanth opens up on Olympics dream, recent form, life in lockdown and more Digvijay Singh Deo: Mary, this must be a bittersweet moment for you. You won the Olympic quota and then within weeks, the announcement came through that the games were postponed. MC Mary Kom: The current situation with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic is not just a problem for the athletes, it is a problem for everyone, including the International Olympic Committee and the organisers of the Tokyo Games. Who wants to die? Our health comes first and I feel the right decision has been made by the IOC. No group or individual can be blamed for the current global crisis, we are all in it together. In the current climate, no athlete wants to put their lives at risk and compete at the Olympics. So the right decision was made. DSD: As professional athletes, one expects you to adapt to the situation but this must feel like a personal blow as well considering that you were in top shape leading up to the Olympics. Mary: It is a challenge for everyone to work from home, as an athlete you will not be able to train properly due to the lack of facilities at home. But you have to adapt and work with what you have at home and make the best use of this time. But I have to follow the government's instructions and not go out at this time, because of the grave dangers of the COVID-19 disease. As an athlete, if I contract the virus not only will it be a health concern, I will also lose a lot of time during recovery. So it is best that we stay home and try to make the best use of this situation, which includes spending quality time with your family. DSD: I think I must remind our viewers and readers that boxing was the first sport to suffer from the coronavirus pandemic as it was the Olympic Asian qualifiers in Wuhan that were cancelled in the first week of February. How difficult has the uncertainty been Mary especially in terms of rearranging training schedules? Mary: Somehow, we have to manage in this situation, an athlete needs to adapt. We will work with our coaches and federations. The Olympic qualifiers were moved from Wuhan, which was where the virus originated from, to Jordan. The change in schedule wasn't that challenging for us as we were already prepared for every situation. So we have already experienced tournaments being postponed. The challenge is maintaining your stamina and physical fitness in these times. The Indian boxers were excellent in the Jordan qualifiers, 5 men and 4 women secured their berth, so they adapted very well to the postponement and hopefully, that will continue in the future. DSD: You must be reading that Italy is now one of the worst affected countries due to the coronavirus and the Indian team trained there ahead of the rescheduled qualifiers in Amman. What precautions did you all follow when in Italy? Mary: I have to admit that we were a bit scared when we were in Italy. We were in a town called Assisi, fortunately, when we were there the virus had not reached the area yet. Cases were rapidly rising in northern Italy but things weren't as bad in Assisi. But naturally, we were scared because of the scale of the problem in the country. We were hearing rumours that those athletes who were training in Italy will not be able to participate in the Olympic qualifiers in Jordan. But I must say the Boxing Federation of India was very proactive in getting us to Jordan as soon as possible. The president, Ajay Singh, and the body did an excellent job in ensuring the safety of the boxers. There was a minor hiccup in our stopover in Frankfurt when we were going to Jordan. Some of the boxers and staff had to stay an extra day, but all that is in the past and the good thing is that all of us are here now in our homes. DSD: You are a fighter in every sense of the term. You won the Olympic medal in 2012 when women’s boxing made its debut at the games. You narrowly missed out on qualifying for Rio 2016 and you contemplated retiring. But you never gave up hope of that Olympic gold, made a successful comeback in 2017 at the Asian championships.is this the final battle of an extraordinary career, to keep yourself in top shape till the 2021 Olympics. Mary: It is a huge challenge for me to stay in shape for the 2021 Olympics.it has been my dream to win a gold medal for the country at the Olympics. I thank the boxing federation of India from the bottom of my heart for their support. This Olympics is extremely important for me; I have all the medals in the world. The only one which is missing is the Olympic gold which I am desperate for. It is not easy for me to train at this age after so many years of competing at the highest level. It does take a toll on you, but I have confidence in my ability as a boxer and believe that I will be able to achieve that goal. I appeal to the people of India to support me in my quest for the gold medal. It is my dream to win the gold for my country and the people. That is my single objective for the 2021 Olympics. DSD: You are not getting younger and you face younger opponents each time you step into the ring. How do stay a step ahead of these young pretenders? What is the secret to your hunger and performance? Mary: The secret is training regularly. I train extremely hard for 4-5 days in a week. I don't miss any session and retain 100 per cent focus during training. Maintaining high concentration levels is essential to compete at the highest level at my age of 37. I am an extremely determined individual and God has blessed me with incredible will power. I try to execute my game plan for my next bout in the training sessions so that I am fully prepared for whatever my opponent throws at me. Strategic preparation is the key to success and you cannot ever take your foot off the pedal. I'm fortunate that I am in good shape and able to compete against the youngsters. DSD: What is the schedule like at home nowadays, how are you keeping yourself fit during the lockdown? Mary: Other people might be putting on weight at home, but us athletes have to work out whenever we can. An athlete needs to adapt to whatever the circumstances are and must continue to train. I am fortunate that I have a gym facility set up at home, so I’m using that regularly. I have not missed a single day of training during this time at home. I'm delighted that I have a gym at home, so I don't need to go out during the lockdown for my sessions.so I’m at home, I’m happy and fit. DSD: Every dark cloud has a silver lining. For you is it getting to spend time with the family without any distractions. Mary: Yes, my 4 kids ensure that I get extra training sessions while I’m at home. For us it can sometimes get boring as we are following the same routine every day. But it is also important to think about the people who are suffering during the shutdown. The daily wage labourers are finding it extremely hard to maintain their livelihoods and I’m glad that the government is taking steps to ensure that they are not deprived of their basic needs. I appeal to everyone to support each other, we must follow the government instructions and not go out. If we fail to understand the gravity of the situation, then it will be a major problem, not only for us but also our future generations. So the best step to take to save yourself from getting infected is to stay home. Also for me personally if I get infected with the disease, i don't know if I will be able to make a comeback in my professional career. So I again appeal to everyone to stay home, stay healthy and sleep well. That is the best medical advice I can give you during these times. If we really want to defeat the coronavirus, we have to stay home and follow government instructions, like going out only when it is necessary, washing hands regularly and practice social distancing.

Exclusive: 'We are all in it together' - Mary Kom opens up on COVID-19 pandemic, Olympic gold dream, life in lockdown and more

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the entire world in a stand-still. The sporting calendar has been torn apart by the outbreak of the dreaded virus with all the tournaments getting either cancelled or postponed. The 21-day lockdown period in India, which is enforced to curb the spread of the coronavirus, has restricted all the athletes to train indoors.&nbsp;

Ace Indian badminton player, Kidambi Srikanth, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from the decision to postpone Olympics, how it will affect the qualification scenario, his run of form of late, how he is managing to remain fit amid the lockdown and much more.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-sports-shuttler-srikanth-ready-to-grab-recond-chance-badminton-290465/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Digvijay Singh Deo: Srikanth,&nbsp;I must start with what you think of the decision to postpone the Olympic games because pushing the dates back by a year directly affects you.&nbsp;

Kidambi Srikanth:&nbsp;I think the situation the world is in right now with this deadly virus, it is the correct decision. Sport is very important to athletes, but not more important than life itself.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-virus-rewriting-history-books-in-tennis-mahesh-bhupathi-opens-up-on-wimbledon-cancellation-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290212" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more</a>

<img alt="Kidambi Srikanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb89f59e-fc3b-49e9-adb2-45068d76a1a0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1F64FB.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;Do you now firmly believe that you will get a fair chance at qualification once again? And I empashize the word fair here.

KS:&nbsp;I’m not sure about the process to qualify for the Games. The Badminton World Federation has not given an official statement yet. They will have to decide what tournaments they will form part of the qualifiers. I think every player who is capable of being in the top 16 of the rankings, be it this year or next year will get the chance to make it to the Olympics

DSD: Let’s look at the problems all the Indian shuttlers we’re facing. Parupalli Kashyap was very vocal about it as well and Saina Nehwal too. When we play a sport we believe in the principle of fair play. You think that was missing with the BWF cancelling tournaments and then not announcing any backup. That is favoured only a certain set of players who were all but qualified for the Olympics.

KS:&nbsp;Initially, they cancelled some tournaments and I was one of the players whose ranking got severely affected as no compensation in the form of an event was being offered. But now since the games have been postponed, it gives BWF 12 months’ time to figure out what tournaments to include as part of the qualifying process before the deadline. Now the ball is in BWF’s court and they have to make a decision which is fair to all the players.

DSD:&nbsp;I must remind everyone that you reached the quarterfinals of the Rio Olympics four years ago and played a memorable match against Lin Dan. PV Sindhu went on to win a silver there for India and you were cheering from the stands. What did playing in an Olympics mean to you Srikanth?

KS:&nbsp;Every athlete dreams of participating in the Olympics. Once you're there you obviously want to do well and win a medal for your country. At the Olympics, the athletes are not just playing for themselves, they are representing their countries. A medal won is added to the country's tally and not attributed to just the athlete. So being part of the games is something you cherish as an athlete. The whole country feels a sense of pride when an athlete wins a medal, so it is a dream of mine to do that and I will give it all I’ve got.

DSD: Talk us through if you will about how your approach and training changes in the approach to a big tournament like the Olympics that only comes once every 4 years. How far out do you start to plan for it?

KS:&nbsp;The other tournaments happen throughout the year, so you don't get a substantial amount of time to prepare. But the Olympics is one tournament where you get about one and a half to two months before the event with no tournaments. So that gives us players the time to work on every aspect of our game. Usually before other tournaments because of the time constraint, we can only work on specific aspects or our weaknesses. But that is not the case for the Olympics, so you actually go there with all you've got.

DSD: For you personally this forced break gives you a chance of recalibrating and figuring out what to change. Results over the last 12-18 months have not been good and by the standards, you have set you will be extremely disappointed.

KS:&nbsp;I think this is the ideal time for me to work on my fitness and physical state. I can also fix some posture issues. Unfortunately, I can't go to the gym at the moment, so I’m doing whatever I can at home. It's very important to maintain physical fitness at this time because whenever I get back to training on the court, my body should be ready. I have to put this time to good use so that I don't have to start from scratch when I’m back on the court. Apart from that, I’m also reflecting on my game, trying to figure out what worked for me in 2017-2018 and what my game has lacked in 2019.

DSD:&nbsp;If I may ask you - what do you think is missing? Is it a lack of confidence, errors in executing game plans, or a feeling that the same things that worked previously aren’t working anymore?

KS:&nbsp;I think initially it was my injury that was a major setback for me. Then when I recovered I feel like I was pushing myself too hard, playing too many tournaments. Subsequently, I dropped ranking points and put too much pressure on myself, because of that I got a few more injuries. So I probably won't play many tournaments in the next 12 months. I'll work on my physical fitness and work on my body, which will hopefully result in good performances on the court. I'll probably play one tournament a month in the next 12 months.

<img alt="Kidambi Srikanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3403f59a-22ff-4729-b10f-b5b9e3b91b6e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1FL3B5.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;There was a suggestion from Pullela Gopichand earlier in the season that playing too many tournaments was a reason for the early exits of the Indian shuttlers in&nbsp;a few consecutive events. Also, badminton as a sport requires consistency over a 12-month period to qualify for the Olympics, unlike sports like shooting and archery where there are designated tournaments where you can qualify.

KS:&nbsp;I think one mistake the BWF continues to make every year is it puts pressure on players to play minimum 12 super series events every year, along with that there will be tournaments like the Thomas Cup and the World Championships. So that adds up to about 17-18 tournaments every year, which puts a lot of pressure on the players. I don't think it is possible for a player to be fit for 18 tournaments ever year. So that is what taking a toll on many players' bodies and resulting in injuries. So the calendar is something the BWF should definitely look at. I think from the player's point of view, the number of mandatory tournaments in a year should be reduced to 12 to 15. That'll help the players stay fit and as a result, they'll be able to compete at the highest level.

DSD:&nbsp;&nbsp;Let’s now talk about how you are approaching your day in these times. The lockdown has been much longer for you as you all had to enter a period of self-isolation after returning from All England

KS:&nbsp;After a long time, I’ve been at home for this long period. I think in the last 12-16 months; I’ve not spent more than 2 weeks at home in total. I'm also in Guntur and not in Hyderabad, which is also rare. In the last 10 or 12 years, i have not spent more than 4 days at my home in Guntur at a stretch. I've been in Guntur since 13th march, so it’s almost been 3 weeks, it is a bit strange almost difficult to be at one place. Suddenly I feel that travelling is easier. If training facilities would have been open in Hyderabad, I think I would have preferred being there. But staying at home with nothing much to do is a bit difficult for me.

DSD:&nbsp;&nbsp;What about badminton.is it necessary for you to keep playing every day and how are you managing that?

KS: There are some indoor courts nearby but they are all shut. So as of now, I have nowhere I can train. Even all the gyms are closed.

DSD: We are seeing many international athletes post videos etc, of their fitness regimes. Indian athletes like Ashwini Ponnappa and Anjum Moudgil also doing the same. So what are you up to?

KS:&nbsp;There are exercises I do every day for about 30 to 45 minutes. It's about staying fit so that the fitness levels of my body do not drop down drastically. I think that's my main goal in this period to stay physically fit.

<img alt="Kidambi Srikanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="29b5e62b-1741-4b5d-95bd-dae1c8f04fdf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1416MA.jpg" />

DSD: since you are in Guntur and with pretty much nothing to do how are you spending time with family. Are you trying your hand at cooking?&nbsp;Do you have a WhatsApp group of fellow shuttlers. What are they up to and what are all you talking about?

KS:&nbsp;I’m not cooking, but I watch TV with my parents and sometimes play carrom. I usually watch whatever comes up on TV, no particular show as I haven't planned anything to watch. I also do some gaming on my mobile. I’m in touch with my team-mates and know what they're up to.

&nbsp;

<o:p></o:p>

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the entire world in a stand-still. The sporting calendar has been torn apart by the outbreak of the dreaded virus with all the tournaments getting either cancelled or postponed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the entire world in a stand-still. The sporting calendar has been torn apart by the outbreak of the dreaded virus with all the tournaments getting either cancelled or postponed. The 21-day lockdown period in India, which is enforced to curb the spread of the coronavirus, has restricted all the athletes to train indoors. Ace Indian badminton player, Kidambi Srikanth, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from the decision to postpone Olympics, how it will affect the qualification scenario, his run of form of late, how he is managing to remain fit amid the lockdown and much more. Watch | Digvijay Singh Deo: Srikanth, I must start with what you think of the decision to postpone the Olympic games because pushing the dates back by a year directly affects you. Kidambi Srikanth: I think the situation the world is in right now with this deadly virus, it is the correct decision. Sport is very important to athletes, but not more important than life itself. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more DSD: Do you now firmly believe that you will get a fair chance at qualification once again? And I empashize the word fair here. KS: I’m not sure about the process to qualify for the Games. The Badminton World Federation has not given an official statement yet. They will have to decide what tournaments they will form part of the qualifiers. I think every player who is capable of being in the top 16 of the rankings, be it this year or next year will get the chance to make it to the Olympics DSD: Let’s look at the problems all the Indian shuttlers we’re facing. Parupalli Kashyap was very vocal about it as well and Saina Nehwal too. When we play a sport we believe in the principle of fair play. You think that was missing with the BWF cancelling tournaments and then not announcing any backup. That is favoured only a certain set of players who were all but qualified for the Olympics. KS: Initially, they cancelled some tournaments and I was one of the players whose ranking got severely affected as no compensation in the form of an event was being offered. But now since the games have been postponed, it gives BWF 12 months’ time to figure out what tournaments to include as part of the qualifying process before the deadline. Now the ball is in BWF’s court and they have to make a decision which is fair to all the players. DSD: I must remind everyone that you reached the quarterfinals of the Rio Olympics four years ago and played a memorable match against Lin Dan. PV Sindhu went on to win a silver there for India and you were cheering from the stands. What did playing in an Olympics mean to you Srikanth? KS: Every athlete dreams of participating in the Olympics. Once you're there you obviously want to do well and win a medal for your country. At the Olympics, the athletes are not just playing for themselves, they are representing their countries. A medal won is added to the country's tally and not attributed to just the athlete. So being part of the games is something you cherish as an athlete. The whole country feels a sense of pride when an athlete wins a medal, so it is a dream of mine to do that and I will give it all I’ve got. DSD: Talk us through if you will about how your approach and training changes in the approach to a big tournament like the Olympics that only comes once every 4 years. How far out do you start to plan for it? KS: The other tournaments happen throughout the year, so you don't get a substantial amount of time to prepare. But the Olympics is one tournament where you get about one and a half to two months before the event with no tournaments. So that gives us players the time to work on every aspect of our game. Usually before other tournaments because of the time constraint, we can only work on specific aspects or our weaknesses. But that is not the case for the Olympics, so you actually go there with all you've got. DSD: For you personally this forced break gives you a chance of recalibrating and figuring out what to change. Results over the last 12-18 months have not been good and by the standards, you have set you will be extremely disappointed. KS: I think this is the ideal time for me to work on my fitness and physical state. I can also fix some posture issues. Unfortunately, I can't go to the gym at the moment, so I’m doing whatever I can at home. It's very important to maintain physical fitness at this time because whenever I get back to training on the court, my body should be ready. I have to put this time to good use so that I don't have to start from scratch when I’m back on the court. Apart from that, I’m also reflecting on my game, trying to figure out what worked for me in 2017-2018 and what my game has lacked in 2019. DSD: If I may ask you - what do you think is missing? Is it a lack of confidence, errors in executing game plans, or a feeling that the same things that worked previously aren’t working anymore? KS: I think initially it was my injury that was a major setback for me. Then when I recovered I feel like I was pushing myself too hard, playing too many tournaments. Subsequently, I dropped ranking points and put too much pressure on myself, because of that I got a few more injuries. So I probably won't play many tournaments in the next 12 months. I'll work on my physical fitness and work on my body, which will hopefully result in good performances on the court. I'll probably play one tournament a month in the next 12 months. DSD: There was a suggestion from Pullela Gopichand earlier in the season that playing too many tournaments was a reason for the early exits of the Indian shuttlers in a few consecutive events. Also, badminton as a sport requires consistency over a 12-month period to qualify for the Olympics, unlike sports like shooting and archery where there are designated tournaments where you can qualify. KS: I think one mistake the BWF continues to make every year is it puts pressure on players to play minimum 12 super series events every year, along with that there will be tournaments like the Thomas Cup and the World Championships. So that adds up to about 17-18 tournaments every year, which puts a lot of pressure on the players. I don't think it is possible for a player to be fit for 18 tournaments ever year. So that is what taking a toll on many players' bodies and resulting in injuries. So the calendar is something the BWF should definitely look at. I think from the player's point of view, the number of mandatory tournaments in a year should be reduced to 12 to 15. That'll help the players stay fit and as a result, they'll be able to compete at the highest level. DSD: Let’s now talk about how you are approaching your day in these times. The lockdown has been much longer for you as you all had to enter a period of self-isolation after returning from All England KS: After a long time, I’ve been at home for this long period. I think in the last 12-16 months; I’ve not spent more than 2 weeks at home in total. I'm also in Guntur and not in Hyderabad, which is also rare. In the last 10 or 12 years, i have not spent more than 4 days at my home in Guntur at a stretch. I've been in Guntur since 13th march, so it’s almost been 3 weeks, it is a bit strange almost difficult to be at one place. Suddenly I feel that travelling is easier. If training facilities would have been open in Hyderabad, I think I would have preferred being there. But staying at home with nothing much to do is a bit difficult for me. DSD: What about badminton.is it necessary for you to keep playing every day and how are you managing that? KS: There are some indoor courts nearby but they are all shut. So as of now, I have nowhere I can train. Even all the gyms are closed. DSD: We are seeing many international athletes post videos etc, of their fitness regimes. Indian athletes like Ashwini Ponnappa and Anjum Moudgil also doing the same. So what are you up to? KS: There are exercises I do every day for about 30 to 45 minutes. It's about staying fit so that the fitness levels of my body do not drop down drastically. I think that's my main goal in this period to stay physically fit. DSD: since you are in Guntur and with pretty much nothing to do how are you spending time with family. Are you trying your hand at cooking? Do you have a WhatsApp group of fellow shuttlers. What are they up to and what are all you talking about? KS: I’m not cooking, but I watch TV with my parents and sometimes play carrom. I usually watch whatever comes up on TV, no particular show as I haven't planned anything to watch. I also do some gaming on my mobile. I’m in touch with my team-mates and know what they're up to.

Exclusive: 'Sports is not important than life' - Kidambi Srikanth opens up on Olympics dream, recent form, life in lockdown and more

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the entire sporting calendar shattered and tennis is one of the sports to be most affected by the dreaded virus. The AELTC on Wednesday announced that Wimbledon stands cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the dreaded virus and the 134th edition of the Championships will be staged from June 28, 2021, to July 11, 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the entire sporting calendar shattered and tennis is one of the sports to be most affected by the dreaded virus. The AELTC on Wednesday announced that Wimbledon stands cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the dreaded virus and the 134th edition of the Championships will be staged from June 28, 2021, to July 11, 2021. Earlier, the Rolland-Garros was postponed and will now be played from September 20 to October 4, 2020. While tennis players are bound to be a bit disappointed with the Wimbledon getting cancelled, but with the entire world facing an unprecedented scenario with the COVID-19 pandemic, this comes as a welcome move given the health concerns of everyone associated with the tournament. Ace Indian tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, gave his reactions to the cancellation of Wimbledon and opened up about a lot of things ranging from the idea of playing behind closed doors, the future of Roger Federer, tennis after COVID-19 pandemic, how he is spending his time during lockdown and much more. × Digvijay Singh Deo: Joined by one of the stalwarts of Indian sport and a three-time Wimbledon champion Mahesh Bhupathi. First reactions Mahesh, are you sad at the cancellation or was it inevitable? MB: As a tennis fan, I am heartbroken. Wimbledon has always been the epicenter of our sport. Even since I retired, I have spent every summer in London watching matches at sw19. But as sad as I am, the decision was expected given how serious the COVID-19 virus is, but hopefully, the situation will improve in the coming months and the sport will return soon. DSD: I’m going to play devils advocate here, Is it not too early to make that call, we are in early April? Wimbledon was scheduled for the end of June-almost three months away. The likes of Boris Becker were saying wait for some more time. MB: No I don't think so. A tournament of the magnitude of Wimbledon, within the time frame that it takes place in, generates a lot of revenue and involves a lot of planning. So all relevant stakeholders were consulted before the decision was taken. I know a lot of people in London who have contracted the virus and think the situation is only going to get worse, so I think the right decision was taken. A lot of factors have to be considered a lot of preparation goes into an event like this- for example, ball boys are trained from all over the world. So Wimbledon is always meticulous in their planning, and they felt like they wouldn't be able to do justice to the event. DSD: There also existed the option of playing behind closed doors, probably not the spectacle we would have wanted but across the world sporting bodies are waking up to that reality. Even England’s cricket world cup winning captain, Eoin Morgan offered the same solution to sports administrators on Wednesday. Do you think they should have been open to that idea? MB: I don't think playing without spectators is fair on the athletes, part of the experience is competing in front of packed houses which create the atmosphere and make the game more competitive. That's the setting in which an athlete thrives don't think it’s right to protect the fans and not the players or those people involved in the event. The players, umpires, ball boys and some staff will be present on the ground even if the tournament is held behind closed doors. So is it fair to put their health at risk to generate some TV revenue? DSD: There have been lots of reactions coming in across the board and predictably lots of disappointments. Why is Wimbledon so special to the players? MB: Wimbledon has always been and will continue to be the mecca of tennis. That is where the tennis world congregates once a year. Every grand slam winner and all the sport's big guns-past and present- are at the tournament. It's a celebration of the sport and that's something that the players will obviously miss. But at this time the health of the players and their families comes first. DSD: What you can’t control is father time and two of the most quoted reactions when it comes to the cancellation of Wimbledon are those of Roger Federer and Serena Williams, for both Wimbledon seemed to be a logical shot at winning another slam MB: The effect of the virus is going to be fairly significant when it comes to rewriting the history of the sport. This year's Wimbledon was probably Federer’s best opportunity to distance himself from his great rivals Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, in terms of the number of majors won. Serena Williams as well would have seen the tournament as a great opportunity to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam singles titles. I hope both of them are back for the tournament in 2021, but I think maybe 10 years down the line when we look back at this period, this break could be a significant chapter in the history of the sport. DSD: This current lockdown could work out well for Federer, he took a break to have surgery and now he isn’t losing any ranking points with the Olympics now shifted by a year, you get the feeling that 2021 will be his goodbye year. MB: I’ve learnt the hard way over the last few years that you must not write off Roger Federer. Even four years ago, many were saying that Wimbledon could be his last slam, but that obviously wasn't the case. He has the incredible ability to play only 10 or 12 tournaments in a year, but play them at the highest level, which is partly god gifted. I wouldn't be surprised if Federer continues to play for another 2-3 years. But all the tennis players are getting a bit restless, not being able to play is something they have not known, so it is very frustrating for them. Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020 × DSD: There are some who feel the entire tennis season is under threat, you need immense fitness in this sport, the confines of the home and gyms aren’t going to get you match fit. MB: when you are unable to train, you lose your cardio conditioning and getting that back doesn't happen overnight. I'm not sure if the entire season is finished, as the virus subsides, tournaments will come thick and fast. I think the offseason will definitely be cancelled. The ATP & WTA will try and organise as many events as they can at the end of the year. DSD: There is also the question of player livelihoods. The top fifty probably have the capacity to withstand the tours shutting down but there is a serious problem down the rung. MB: Some tennis players get paid a lot of money, but anyone below the ranking of 50 are not getting any income, their coaches aren't getting any money. The whole ecosystem of the sport is at a standstill, and I think the ATP & the WTA have to quickly figure things out for the near future. DSD: When you then look at that situation globally there are so many players who play on the Challenger Tour, the ITF Circuit, some for as much as 3000 dollars winning cheques. All of them have been essentially furloughed too and don’t have any government programs to bank upon. And how are the Indian players managing during these tough times? MB: These are tough times for not just the players who are ranked in the 200s, but even for the players ranked outside the top 50, they have absolutely no income. India's Sumit Nagal is currently in an academy in Germany and I’m sure he's struggling every week because there's no money to be made. I don't know what the exact solution to the problem is, but I’m sure the ATP & WTA working on something. There have been significant contributions the tours have made to the pension plans over the last few years, so I think if they declare 'force majeure', they can get some money in the players' hands, which is crucial. DSD: Do you think the ITF, the ATP tour and the WTA tour and other bodies have the capacity to come up with a sort of relief package for players? Yes, tournaments also are facing the brunt but most have insurance… MB: Yes, it's a pretty bad situation for the players, for example, if you're working for a company or play professionally for a team, most of the organisations are standing by their employees in these times by guaranteeing their jobs, even if there is a pay cut involved. But where tennis is concerned, it's an individual sport, so you're not employed by anyone and you're not getting a paycheque. So unless the tours are able to figure things out quickly, there will be more than just frustration from the players' side in a few months. DSD: The French Open has been unilaterally pushed back to September - same dates as Federer’s Laver Cup. How is that clash going to pan out in your opinion, it is unheard of players skipping grand slam in this era? MB: I think once the season resumes, if and when it does, events like the French open and Laver Cup, which are clashing will have to come to a compromise. I do not see any top players skipping the French Open, it's another slam to be won and none of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer would want the other to get ahead in the race. But if anyone skips it, it might be Federer because of his involvement with the Laver Cup. But apart from that, there has to be a compromise. Everyone is renegotiating what they committed to for the long term. That is the only way forward at this point in time. DSD: For you personally what’s the schedule like during the lockdown, getting back to fitness is something I can see on your social media profiles. MB: I try to exercise once a day at least and of course I have an eight-year-old daughter at home, so we have to keep her entertained the whole day, which is not an easy task. She's dying to get back to school, luckily for us she has online classes from Monday, so half the day is taken care of. But other than that just killing time and trying to catch up with as many friends as possible, making sure they're fine. View this post on Instagram No Gyms, No problem!! Work at home , build strength , build immunity , fight the virus !!! man behind the scene @yeshu_hardcore #familyworkout @larabhupathi @healthifyme A post shared by Mahesh Bhupathi (@mbhupathi) on Mar 14, 2020 at 12:06am PDT × DSD: You once had an e-mail id called Mahesh no 1, this was to do with the Govinda films of the nineties and not your world ranking at the time in doubles. Lots of movie watching for you at this time or you have already binge-watched most of what is available online? MB: Yes, I’m mostly watching re-runs of shows. But luckily new seasons of various series keep coming up, so there's something to binge on most of the time. Recently I saw 'Student of the Year' and 'Tanhaji' with my daughter. She enjoys watching the classics and I love giving her company.

Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more

Ace shooter Anjum Moudgil was one of the first to seal qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics back in 2018. Everything was going as per the plan before the situation surrounding COVID-19 started to turn around. Eventually, India and almost the entire world was in lockdown due to the pandemic which forced the International Olympic Committee to postpone the quadrennial event by a year.

The Tokyo Olympics will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021. Hence, the wait to battle it out in the grandest stage of all was extended not only for Anjum but for every other athlete who had qualified for the Games or were favourites to do so.

In an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, Anjum Moudgil spoke about a lot of things ranging from her qualification in 2018, the decision to postpone the Olympics, how she is dealing with the 21-day lockdown period and much more.

Anjum bagged her Olympics qualification back in 2018 but since then it has been a waiting game for her as she continued to participate in selection trials and ISSF World Cups to maintain her rankings. Anjum termed the waiting game as a ‘bit strange’ while adding the extra 15 months can be positive for athletes as it gives more time for preparation.&nbsp;

“I think the decision was right to postpone the games, but it has been a really long time since we qualified so it is a bit strange. We have about 15 months to go for the games which give us more time for preparation which can be a positive thing,” Anjum told WION.

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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-abhinav-bindra-opens-up-on-tokyo-olympics-athletes-preparation-and-much-more-289750" hreflang="en">Exclusive: Abhinav Bindra opens up on Tokyo Olympics, athletes' preparation and much more</a>

“I can't go out and train right now so at home I’m focusing more on my physical training, I’m working out properly. So I’m using this period very well to focus on my physical and mental well-being, also get to spend time with my family, so I’m adapting very well.”

<img alt="Anjum Moudgil" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="809f539a-baf6-4154-828d-844d6f393ad4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_13Z3TE.jpg" />

There was a lot of talk surrounding the postponement or cancellation of the Games before it was officially announced that the quadrennial event will be delayed by a year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The move to postpone the Games has been well received by the athletes and sporting federations, and Anjum echoes the same thought as she said that outdoor training wasn’t possible during the lockdown and moving the Games by a year was a good move. The two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist further said that she will now draw a fresh plan with her coach and wait for the ISSF to announce the tournament schedule.&nbsp;

“I was happy that the Games were postponed, everyone was stressed given the uncertainty surrounding the games. Given the fact that every sport needs outdoor training for preparation, which of course wasn't possible during the lockdown, the decision to postpone the Games was the right one.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-i-saw-it-coming-apurvi-chandela-opens-up-on-tokyo-olympics-postponement-and-life-in-lockdown-289643" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'I saw it coming' - Apurvi Chandela opens up on Tokyo Olympics postponement and life in lockdown</a>

“But now all the International federations and National Olympic Committees need to rework their calendar and go back to the drawing board. So I think it's more work for the authorities rather than the athletes. We athletes will continue to practice and work on our physical health, which is our job. I will draw up a plan with my coach and wait for the ISSF to announce the tournament schedule so that i can prepare a detailed plan leading up to the games,” Anjum explained.

However, a bigger test for all the competing athletes is that they are not able to train outdoors during the lockdown. All the training is limited to their residences and personal gyms. Anjum said that there’s a sense of uncertainty surrounding the fixtures while adding everyone is on the same boat given the current situation with novel coronavirus.

“Even though the games have been postponed, we don't know when we will play our first tournament- it might be June, July, September or even later than that. It all depends on the state of the disease.

<img alt="Anjum Moudgil" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f15171d3-10bc-45d9-9a11-3ad8b735c442" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_13Z4AB.jpg" />

“So it’s very uncertain, all we can do is hope for the best but it’s also impossible to predict anything right now. It’s not just us athletes, everyone is in the same boat right now. The fact that we will wait for so long for the next tournament will only add on to our experience as athletes. I hope everyone is safe till then and whenever the time comes they are ready to compete. The uncertain times are affecting the athletes mentally as well, but there is no option as the lockdown is mandatory for everyone. So we have to adapt and cope with it, there is no other option,” Anjum said.

Anjum is now enjoying being at home and spending time with her family. Painting and reading books on body muscles are keeping Anjum busy during the 21-day lockdown phase.&nbsp;

“I'm very happy being at home, have been spending time with my family. I live in joint family so there are about 10 people in the house which is great. No one is going gout obviously and we are taking necessary precautions. I have more time to paint, which is something i always wanted to do. I'm learning how to dance from my cousin and how to juggle from my brother. I'm also learning about the various muscles in the body, which will help me when I’m at the physio the next time to explain the problem.

“Like I said before I've been working out and also sharing videos on social media. I'm just trying to stay positive as much as i can. I see other athletes and they are a bit down because of the lockdown. But this is something that's not in our control, so i feel we should make the best use of this time, posting videos and trying to stay upbeat,” she said. 
&nbsp;

Ace shooter Anjum Moudgil was one of the first to seal qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics back in 2018. Everything was going as per the plan before the situation surrounding COVID-19 started to turn around.

Ace shooter Anjum Moudgil was one of the first to seal qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics back in 2018. Everything was going as per the plan before the situation surrounding COVID-19 started to turn around. Eventually, India and almost the entire world was in lockdown due to the pandemic which forced the International Olympic Committee to postpone the quadrennial event by a year. The Tokyo Olympics will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021. Hence, the wait to battle it out in the grandest stage of all was extended not only for Anjum but for every other athlete who had qualified for the Games or were favourites to do so. In an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, Anjum Moudgil spoke about a lot of things ranging from her qualification in 2018, the decision to postpone the Olympics, how she is dealing with the 21-day lockdown period and much more. Anjum bagged her Olympics qualification back in 2018 but since then it has been a waiting game for her as she continued to participate in selection trials and ISSF World Cups to maintain her rankings. Anjum termed the waiting game as a ‘bit strange’ while adding the extra 15 months can be positive for athletes as it gives more time for preparation. “I think the decision was right to postpone the games, but it has been a really long time since we qualified so it is a bit strange. We have about 15 months to go for the games which give us more time for preparation which can be a positive thing,” Anjum told WION. × ALSO READ: Exclusive: Abhinav Bindra opens up on Tokyo Olympics, athletes' preparation and much more “I can't go out and train right now so at home I’m focusing more on my physical training, I’m working out properly. So I’m using this period very well to focus on my physical and mental well-being, also get to spend time with my family, so I’m adapting very well.” There was a lot of talk surrounding the postponement or cancellation of the Games before it was officially announced that the quadrennial event will be delayed by a year due to COVID-19 pandemic. The move to postpone the Games has been well received by the athletes and sporting federations, and Anjum echoes the same thought as she said that outdoor training wasn’t possible during the lockdown and moving the Games by a year was a good move. The two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist further said that she will now draw a fresh plan with her coach and wait for the ISSF to announce the tournament schedule. “I was happy that the Games were postponed, everyone was stressed given the uncertainty surrounding the games. Given the fact that every sport needs outdoor training for preparation, which of course wasn't possible during the lockdown, the decision to postpone the Games was the right one. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'I saw it coming' - Apurvi Chandela opens up on Tokyo Olympics postponement and life in lockdown “But now all the International federations and National Olympic Committees need to rework their calendar and go back to the drawing board. So I think it's more work for the authorities rather than the athletes. We athletes will continue to practice and work on our physical health, which is our job. I will draw up a plan with my coach and wait for the ISSF to announce the tournament schedule so that i can prepare a detailed plan leading up to the games,” Anjum explained. However, a bigger test for all the competing athletes is that they are not able to train outdoors during the lockdown. All the training is limited to their residences and personal gyms. Anjum said that there’s a sense of uncertainty surrounding the fixtures while adding everyone is on the same boat given the current situation with novel coronavirus. “Even though the games have been postponed, we don't know when we will play our first tournament- it might be June, July, September or even later than that. It all depends on the state of the disease. “So it’s very uncertain, all we can do is hope for the best but it’s also impossible to predict anything right now. It’s not just us athletes, everyone is in the same boat right now. The fact that we will wait for so long for the next tournament will only add on to our experience as athletes. I hope everyone is safe till then and whenever the time comes they are ready to compete. The uncertain times are affecting the athletes mentally as well, but there is no option as the lockdown is mandatory for everyone. So we have to adapt and cope with it, there is no other option,” Anjum said. Anjum is now enjoying being at home and spending time with her family. Painting and reading books on body muscles are keeping Anjum busy during the 21-day lockdown phase. “I'm very happy being at home, have been spending time with my family. I live in joint family so there are about 10 people in the house which is great. No one is going gout obviously and we are taking necessary precautions. I have more time to paint, which is something i always wanted to do. I'm learning how to dance from my cousin and how to juggle from my brother. I'm also learning about the various muscles in the body, which will help me when I’m at the physio the next time to explain the problem. “Like I said before I've been working out and also sharing videos on social media. I'm just trying to stay positive as much as i can. I see other athletes and they are a bit down because of the lockdown. But this is something that's not in our control, so i feel we should make the best use of this time, posting videos and trying to stay upbeat,” she said.

Exclusive: 'Decision to postpone the Games was right' - Anjum Moudgil on Tokyo Olympics deferral

With the Tokyo Olympics delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the waiting game for the athletes who have qualified for the quadrennial event has just stretched.

With the Tokyo Olympics delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the waiting game for the athletes who have qualified for the quadrennial event has just stretched. The Games will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled for August 8, 2021. The decision to postpone the Olympics comes with massive ramifications but it was the correct call given the current situation surrounding the novel coronavirus worldwide. One of the first athletes to have qualified for Tokyo Olympics and ace Indian shooter, Anjum Moudgil, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from IOC's decision to postpone the Games, unable to train outdoors due to lockdown, shooting training at home, painting and much more. × Digvijay Singh Deo: Anjum thanks for joining me. 3 years to compete at the Olympics, that’s the longest wait any sportsperson has had in the history of the Olympics since the quotas were introduced, that’s a bit of personal record for you and Apurvi Chandela Anjum Moudgil: I think the decision was right to postpone the games, but it has been a really long time since we qualified so it is a bit strange. We have about 15 months to go for the games which give us more time for preparation which can be a positive thing. I can't go out and train right now so at home, I’m focusing more on my physical training, I’m working out properly. So I’m using this period very well to focus on my physical and mental well-being, also get to spend time with my family, so I’m adapting very well. DSD: How did you react to the news of the Olympics getting postponed? Was it a relief or was it oh god another 12 months? AM: I was happy that the games were postponed, everyone was stressed given the uncertainty surrounding the games. Given the fact that every sport needs outdoor training for preparation, which of course wasn't possible during the lockdown, the decision to postpone the games was the right one but now all the international federations and national Olympic committees need to rework their calendar and go back to the drawing board. So I think it's more work for the authorities rather than the athletes. We athletes will continue to practice and work on our physical health, which is our job. I will draw up a plan with my coach and wait for the ISSF to announce the tournament schedule so that I can prepare a detailed plan leading up to the games. DSD: But the uncertainty remains doesn’t it. You do not know when the shooting calendar will resume. Even when it does it will be quite a difficult phase for everyone as there has been no competition for the first half of 2020 and training scores do not always get replicated during competition. AM: Even though the games have been postponed, we don't know when we will play our first tournament- it might be June, July, September or even later than that. It all depends on the state of the pandemic. So it’s very uncertain, all we can do is hope for the best but it’s also impossible to predict anything right now. It’s not just us athletes, everyone is in the same boat right now. The fact that we will wait for so long for the next tournament will only add on to our experience as athletes. I hope everyone is safe till then and whenever the time comes they are ready to compete. The uncertain times are affecting the athletes mentally as well, but there is no option as the lockdown is mandatory for everyone. So we have to adapt and cope with it, there is no other option DSD: Just to get a sense of what the preparatory period is like for an elite Olympic bound sportsperson tell us what has changed in you since you won the Olympic quota for India. Was it more discipline, more training? AM: Surely a lot has changed since securing a quota place in the air rifle, but since then I have never felt extra pressure to secure a quote in three positions event. I have trained equally hard for both events and in fact, three positions are considered my main event. I really feel I belong there and sometimes feel like I own the event, have a lot of confidence in myself. In air rifle, I have started training more in the last two years, to get to know the weaknesses I have. I didn't get the chance to compete in three positions as was concentrating more on air rifle, but that has helped me and it's been a new experience. It's changed my perspective on the two events, but not my work ethic. Results vary for me, especially in terms of scores but I keep putting in the hard work. DSD: Here I must add that the quota belongs to the country and not to a shooter, so there has been a period of trials as well to ensure you stay ahead of the competition, do more competitions translate to more stress? Have you in those last two years thought about losing the spot after a bad competition. Shooting is a very mental sport and thoughts like these are bound to crop up somewhere? AM: Yes it is a little bit of extra pressure since everyone is shooting so well. It’s not a guarantee that whosoever secures the quota spot will get a chance to be a part of the team, but that's where the mental aspect of the athletes comes into play, we have to focus on our own performance rather than team selection. Our job at the range is to go out and do our best, that is under our control. There might be some pressure to produce a certain score, but I try to ignore it. I never prepare myself to beat someone else or see the rankings before a tournament, I just go out and do my best, whatever else happens, I will accept it. DSD: We are seeing social media posts be it on twitter, be it on Instagram of sportspersons trying to stay fit and keep training. What have you been up to in the lockdown? AM: I’m very happy being at home, I have been spending time with my family. I live in a joint family so there are about 10 people in the house which is great. No one is going out obviously and we are taking necessary precautions. I have more time to paint, which is something I always wanted to do. I'm learning how to dance from my cousin and how to juggle from my brother. I'm also learning about the various muscles in the body, which will help me when I’m at the physio the next time to explain the problem. Like I said before I’ve been working out and also sharing videos on social media. I'm just trying to stay positive as much as I can. I see other athletes and they are a bit down because of the lockdown. But this is something that's not in our control, so I feel we should make the best use of this time, posting videos and trying to stay upbeat. View this post on Instagram When you are missing that long run outdoors , its better to Skip instead and stay at home . Urge you all to take it up as well especially during the time of this challenge when we fight together with Corona Rope skipping , helps build your endurance, stamina, muscles with regular practice / something that can be done easily indoors and at home. you may just start with #1 minute and increase gradually as per your capacity # Don’t skip to Rope Skip # SkipKarona # HumFitTohIndiaFit #stayfit #stayhome #olympics #staystrong #stayhealthy @olympicchannel @olympics A post shared by Anjum Moudgil (@anjum_moudgil) on Mar 24, 2020 at 5:08am PDT × DSD: You mentioned painting so I’m going to expand on that. You love painting and whenever you are travelling for competitions you always slip in your canvas and paints and brushes. Now that you are at home are you swamped by orders from your teammates? AM: Now that I’m home I’m getting more orders from teammates for paintings that they had asked me to do a while back. And since I’m at home and not travelling I can complete it. I've always wanted to have a good number of paintings at home so that I can hold an exhibition if I want to. I've always wanted to hold an exhibition of my artwork and I have all the art supplies at homes so that might be possible now. I'm also thinking of selling some of my paintings online to raise money for those people in need during these tough times. I've already donated some money to a friend who also is employed by the Punjab police and who is helping distribute food to the underprivileged and hopefully, I’ll be able to do more in the near future. View this post on Instagram Wear black and be colorful! 🤟🏼 . . This Handpainted Buddha and my painted rifle are my favourite piece Of art till date .. #weaponart #buddha #Black #painting #abstract #anjummoudgil A post shared by Anjum Moudgil (@anjum_moudgil) on Feb 20, 2020 at 7:13am PST × DSD: Some in your shooting fraternity have built small shooting ranges at home and can still train. Are you able to train at home? AM: I had planned a break after the scheduled Delhi World Cup (which was called off in the first week of March) because I had a very busy season in January, February and March. So that 10-day break just got over and I’ve started training today, am focusing on dry shooting right now for both my events. I earlier didn't have a training facility at home in Chandigarh as I was not here most of the time and the shooting range is very near to my house. But now that I’m going to be home, my father and I have built a temporary target. He and I do a lot of woodwork, so we have set up that range for me to train here. View this post on Instagram Things I am doing at Home to Stay Active at this time , when everyone is required to be responsible and be at home and be safe from Covid-19. #StayActive @olympics @olympicchannel @gosportsvoices @tokyo2020 #tokyo2020ne #StayActive @media.iccsai @officialnrai @officialkheloindia @issf_official @maggsway5 A post shared by Anjum Moudgil (@anjum_moudgil) on Mar 28, 2020 at 3:30am PDT × DSD: For the benefit of our readers and viewers can you explain what dry training is all about? AM: Dry training is basically replicating everything that you do in a shooting range, except actually releasing the shot. Every action will be the same, even pulling the trigger but the shot will not be released. Muscle memory is very important for us shooters and this is a great exercise. Also shooting at home can be unsafe since we have to make sure that no one is in the vicinity before we take the shot. DSD: Are you in touch with your shooting teammates during this lockdown period. The Indian team had a very hectic schedule in 2019 and those you who qualified for the Olympics barely had an offseason as you continued to train for the games. Is this break actually good for all of you to recharge your batteries? AM: I haven't been in touch with the shooters that secured the quota, but the ones that I have spoken to are all happy to have this break. I am certainly happy to be at home, spending time with my family, it really has helped me recharge my batteries since I am not at home that often in Chandigarh, I’m usually in Delhi. It's great that I can have home-cooked food, I even cooked a meal yesterday myself. So I can do pretty much whatever I want which is great. I even made a video with all the Indian shooters to show our unity and spirit in these tough times, I’ve uploaded that to Instagram and it turned out to be pretty good. View this post on Instagram We are in this together . #teamindia #shootingindia Our prayers are with the people affected and we hope for quick recovery for everyone worldwide. We are thankful to the Doctors, staff, Police and every citizen working to make this virus stop from spreading. We are being responsible, practice at home and follow necessary precautions required. Do your bit too. #stayactive #covid_19 #india #staysafe #staystrong A post shared by Anjum Moudgil (@anjum_moudgil) on Mar 28, 2020 at 11:50pm PDT ×

Exclusive: Anjum Moudgil opens up on Olympics postponement, life in lockdown, love for painting and much more

There has been a lot of talks surrounding the Tokyo Olympics, which will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021, after the quadrennial event was delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many athletes and sporting federations had raised their concerns regarding the Games before they were postponed but the IOC after consulting with the Japanese government and all the relevant stakeholders came to a mutual agreement that it was the best possible decision to delay the event for the safety and welfare of the athletes and everyone associated with the Tokyo Olympics.&nbsp;

Padma Bhushan awardee, Abhinav Bindra, who is also India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist, spoke to WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, in an exclusive interview,&nbsp;as the recipient of prestigious Blue Cross opened up on a lot of things ranging from the decision to postpone the Games, the ramifications of the Olympics, what is the way forward for the athletes from here and much more.&nbsp;

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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-i-saw-it-coming-apurvi-chandela-opens-up-on-tokyo-olympics-postponement-and-life-in-lockdown-289643" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'I saw it coming' - Apurvi Chandela opens up on Tokyo Olympics postponement and life in lockdown</a>

<img alt="Abhinav Bindra" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8eeff109-5fbb-43f5-bf4f-55c70e6a3eb8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_APH1234541.jpg" /> 
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Digvijay Singh Deo: Abhinav, let’s start by talking about the decision last evening from the International Olympic Committee. We have new dates for the Olympics and that will go a long way in ending the uncertainty among sportspersons.

Abhinav Bindra: I think the decision has been made pretty quickly, only two weeks back there was a lot of uncertainty about the games getting postponed. The International Olympic Committee has taken a very prompt decision. They initially came up with a four-week deadline to make the call and didn't even use all of it and took a decision within 2 days. They have already revealed the new dates for the games in 2021 which is very good for the athletes. The athletes were getting extremely anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the games. They would have continued to train if the game were not postponed, thereby putting their lives and their families at risk. So it is a very good decision to postpone and I am happy it was taken very quickly.

DSD:&nbsp;A decision to postpone the Olympic Games is not an easy one. There is just so much riding on the games and new logistical nightmares are bound to crop up when you push Games back. Already the IOC has indicated that first priorities are the games village, sports venues and hotel bookings.

AB: The decision cannot just be taken by the IOC, they have to consult all the relevant stakeholders, those are the organising committee, the government, &nbsp;and the many sponsors. Putting together Olympic games are an extremely complex process, keeping that in mind I think the decision to delay the games was taken very quickly. There was a little bit of pressure being built by the media, but given the stakeholders involved and the magnitude of the event, a timely decision was taken.

DSD: The estimated cost of pushing the games back is being pegged at somewhere between $3 Billion to $6 Billion. I think in this entire postponement drama one seems to have forgotten that it is the Japanese taxpayer who will bear the brunt and they deserve to be lauded for agreeing to this postponement.

AB: Japan needs to be lauded for agreeing to bear the cost of the postponement of the games. Do remember that due to the virus the economic outlook is pretty bleak but they have not flinched. It is extremely commendable, especially during these tough economic times for them to do that. The Japanese people are extremely determined and the preparations to the games have probably been the best ever. All the venues were ready well before time and they have done a fantastic job. They remain committed to hosting the best ever Olympics and I hope to come next year that will be the case.

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DSD: You have been in the thick of the decision-making process. You are a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes Commission and there has been regular interaction between you all and IOC President Thomas Bach. You could say there was a push back by the athletes in these uncertain times as they were not being able to get on with the best possible preparations for the 2020 Olympics?

AB: I think the athletes' view was given due consideration. The IOC always respects the voice of the athletes. In every commission of the IOC, there is always an Athletes' Representative. Even going forward, safeguarding the athletes and their health is of prime importance. All the Olympic Qualifiers have been put on hold currently and the directive given by the IOC to the International Federations is to hold the qualifiers only when they can guarantee fair access to all the players. That it also very important since 43 % of the athletes are yet to secure their place and they need to be given a fair shot at making the games in July 2021. So the athletes' health has been given prime importance in not only the postponement but also the principles laid out for the qualifiers for the 2021 games.

DSD: Abhinav you were known for your meticulous preparation especially heading into the Olympics. Had you been still competing how difficult would it have been for you as a shooter to have the right frame of mind with all the uncertainty around you and the lockdowns.

AB: Athletes have 15 months to go for the games, which is a big relief. It would have been a disaster in terms of preparation for the athletes if the games had only been postponed for 3 or 4 months, that is much tougher to deal with. Athletes plan their schedule in a way that they can peak just before the Olympics, so now that they have 15 months, they can go back to the drawing board. The priority of the athletes must be their health, whenever they get back to the training they can start afresh and work on a plan for 2021. It is not the ideal scenario, but performing at the highest level is all about adapting and I think that is a skill that athletes do have and they have to put that to good use at the moment. This is an unprecedented situation and not in our control. So the fact that they have 15 months to go for the games will be a big relief for them. But some athletes might be approaching the twilight of their careers, and 15 months is a long time for them. But it is out of our control and life isn't always fair so you have to just get on with it.

<img alt="Abhinav Bindra" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a09b37b-5a9e-4d0d-aef5-d5676b6bf6ce" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_APH1234553.jpg" />

DSD: As it stands we have a new date for the Games but what about those who have won Olympic quota places a long time back. Take the case of your sport. Anjum Moudgil and Apurvi Chandela won quota places in September 2018 and it will be close to 3 years by the time they compete at the Games. Chandela admitted that constantly having to perform and give trials was extremely stressful. What would you advise quota holders like her and also national federations as the prevailing Olympic selection policies are currently in limbo?

AB: The Olympic Quota places belong to the National Olympic Committees and they can rejig their policy ahead of the delayed games if they like. 
There could be two Scenarios- One would be that the NOCs would want to be fair to the athletes and they retain the same team as if the games were to be held in 2020.

Another point of view would be to change the team for the 2021 games as 15 months is a long period of time. But now that there is clarity on the dates, all federations, especially in India, should go back to the drawing board and come up with modified selection policies for the 2021 games at the earliest. We don't now when training will resume in most countries, so it will help the athletes to have clarity on the policies. I think in most countries there will be changes to the selection policy, When it comes to the Indian shooters I think they are very young so it shouldn't be much of a challenge for them and they will be able to adapt quite well.

DSD:&nbsp;We need to divide Olympic hopefuls into two categories. One should those who have qualified for the games and the IOC has announced they or their NOC will retain the quota if it is for a team event. My immediate concern is for those who are yet to qualify. They still are not sure of when the qualification tournaments will resume and most are currently under lockdown across the world. Do you see the process resuming before October 2020?

AB: It doesn't seem like there will be any qualifiers soon. The directive that has been given to the International federations is that appropriate preparation must be allowed for the athletes, which is already being taken into consideration. We don't know when this lockdown will end, there are some countries which have issued advisories and travel restrictions for six months. At the moment all Olympic qualifiers have been suspended. As of now, the way things stand I do not see qualifiers resuming before the end of the year or early next year. But the good thing is that there are 15 months still left, so that gives ample time for scheduling also. The qualifiers would have been a challenge to organise if the games had gone ahead this year. So hopefully things will settle down and return to normalcy over the coming months and the sporting calendar can resume.

<img alt="Abhinav Bindra" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c2f7eb4-ab77-4e62-b2a5-457eb51429d0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del218640_0.jpg" />

DSD: You mentioned the Indian shooting team some time back. There were a lot of expectations from them ahead of the 2020 Games. They dominated the world stage last year by winning 16 gold medals in the ISSF World Cups and three of them also won titles at the season ending World Cup Finals. What would you advise the likes of Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker and Divyansh Singh Panwar who are all under 18 and may not have the experience to deal with the situation we are now facing.

AB: I think a lot of responsibility will rest with the coaches and India has some excellent champions who are now coaching the national teams. I agree that for a very young athlete this kind of a scenario will be tough to handle. They need to be in constant touch with the coaches and I am sure our coaches will be up for the challenge. We have had exceptional success with our coaches in the last few years, and they will need to draw up a fresh plan for preparing for the games. Immediate training is obviously not possible given the situation. Coaches have a huge role to play now as mentors. I would tell the athletes to listen to their coaches. 2019 was obviously an unprecedented year for Indian shooting and it is unheard of for shooters to have back to back golden runs in our sport. Who knows maybe the postponement could be a blessing in disguise for India's shooters.

DSD: On one hand you have shooting and then you have other sports like Badminton. Our star players like Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap were all struggling to qualify for the Olympics as tournaments were being cancelled all over. This one year delay gives them an opportunity to regain full fitness and go full throttle at the qualifiers when they finally begin.&nbsp;

AB: The athletes who accept the prevailing situation and adapt to it quickly are the ones who will succeed. There should be no resistance to the postponement. I have spoken to the athletes all over the world as part of my role with the IOC and there is an immense amount of relief. The uncertainty around the games was causing a lot of pressure and stress. Given the situation, people are able to deal with bad news, but they are not able to deal with not knowing. They are more at ease now and they can get back to training as soon as things settle down, but more importantly, they can start re-calibrating their minds and their goals since the dates have been announced. I think the athletes will be able to deal with that.

There has been a lot of talks surrounding the Tokyo Olympics, which will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021, after the quadrennial event was delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has been a lot of talks surrounding the Tokyo Olympics, which will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021, after the quadrennial event was delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many athletes and sporting federations had raised their concerns regarding the Games before they were postponed but the IOC after consulting with the Japanese government and all the relevant stakeholders came to a mutual agreement that it was the best possible decision to delay the event for the safety and welfare of the athletes and everyone associated with the Tokyo Olympics. Padma Bhushan awardee, Abhinav Bindra, who is also India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist, spoke to WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, in an exclusive interview, as the recipient of prestigious Blue Cross opened up on a lot of things ranging from the decision to postpone the Games, the ramifications of the Olympics, what is the way forward for the athletes from here and much more. × ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'I saw it coming' - Apurvi Chandela opens up on Tokyo Olympics postponement and life in lockdown Digvijay Singh Deo: Abhinav, let’s start by talking about the decision last evening from the International Olympic Committee. We have new dates for the Olympics and that will go a long way in ending the uncertainty among sportspersons. Abhinav Bindra: I think the decision has been made pretty quickly, only two weeks back there was a lot of uncertainty about the games getting postponed. The International Olympic Committee has taken a very prompt decision. They initially came up with a four-week deadline to make the call and didn't even use all of it and took a decision within 2 days. They have already revealed the new dates for the games in 2021 which is very good for the athletes. The athletes were getting extremely anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the games. They would have continued to train if the game were not postponed, thereby putting their lives and their families at risk. So it is a very good decision to postpone and I am happy it was taken very quickly. DSD: A decision to postpone the Olympic Games is not an easy one. There is just so much riding on the games and new logistical nightmares are bound to crop up when you push Games back. Already the IOC has indicated that first priorities are the games village, sports venues and hotel bookings. AB: The decision cannot just be taken by the IOC, they have to consult all the relevant stakeholders, those are the organising committee, the government, and the many sponsors. Putting together Olympic games are an extremely complex process, keeping that in mind I think the decision to delay the games was taken very quickly. There was a little bit of pressure being built by the media, but given the stakeholders involved and the magnitude of the event, a timely decision was taken. DSD: The estimated cost of pushing the games back is being pegged at somewhere between $3 Billion to $6 Billion. I think in this entire postponement drama one seems to have forgotten that it is the Japanese taxpayer who will bear the brunt and they deserve to be lauded for agreeing to this postponement. AB: Japan needs to be lauded for agreeing to bear the cost of the postponement of the games. Do remember that due to the virus the economic outlook is pretty bleak but they have not flinched. It is extremely commendable, especially during these tough economic times for them to do that. The Japanese people are extremely determined and the preparations to the games have probably been the best ever. All the venues were ready well before time and they have done a fantastic job. They remain committed to hosting the best ever Olympics and I hope to come next year that will be the case. DSD: You have been in the thick of the decision-making process. You are a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes Commission and there has been regular interaction between you all and IOC President Thomas Bach. You could say there was a push back by the athletes in these uncertain times as they were not being able to get on with the best possible preparations for the 2020 Olympics? AB: I think the athletes' view was given due consideration. The IOC always respects the voice of the athletes. In every commission of the IOC, there is always an Athletes' Representative. Even going forward, safeguarding the athletes and their health is of prime importance. All the Olympic Qualifiers have been put on hold currently and the directive given by the IOC to the International Federations is to hold the qualifiers only when they can guarantee fair access to all the players. That it also very important since 43 % of the athletes are yet to secure their place and they need to be given a fair shot at making the games in July 2021. So the athletes' health has been given prime importance in not only the postponement but also the principles laid out for the qualifiers for the 2021 games. DSD: Abhinav you were known for your meticulous preparation especially heading into the Olympics. Had you been still competing how difficult would it have been for you as a shooter to have the right frame of mind with all the uncertainty around you and the lockdowns. AB: Athletes have 15 months to go for the games, which is a big relief. It would have been a disaster in terms of preparation for the athletes if the games had only been postponed for 3 or 4 months, that is much tougher to deal with. Athletes plan their schedule in a way that they can peak just before the Olympics, so now that they have 15 months, they can go back to the drawing board. The priority of the athletes must be their health, whenever they get back to the training they can start afresh and work on a plan for 2021. It is not the ideal scenario, but performing at the highest level is all about adapting and I think that is a skill that athletes do have and they have to put that to good use at the moment. This is an unprecedented situation and not in our control. So the fact that they have 15 months to go for the games will be a big relief for them. But some athletes might be approaching the twilight of their careers, and 15 months is a long time for them. But it is out of our control and life isn't always fair so you have to just get on with it. DSD: As it stands we have a new date for the Games but what about those who have won Olympic quota places a long time back. Take the case of your sport. Anjum Moudgil and Apurvi Chandela won quota places in September 2018 and it will be close to 3 years by the time they compete at the Games. Chandela admitted that constantly having to perform and give trials was extremely stressful. What would you advise quota holders like her and also national federations as the prevailing Olympic selection policies are currently in limbo? AB: The Olympic Quota places belong to the National Olympic Committees and they can rejig their policy ahead of the delayed games if they like. There could be two Scenarios- One would be that the NOCs would want to be fair to the athletes and they retain the same team as if the games were to be held in 2020. Another point of view would be to change the team for the 2021 games as 15 months is a long period of time. But now that there is clarity on the dates, all federations, especially in India, should go back to the drawing board and come up with modified selection policies for the 2021 games at the earliest. We don't now when training will resume in most countries, so it will help the athletes to have clarity on the policies. I think in most countries there will be changes to the selection policy, When it comes to the Indian shooters I think they are very young so it shouldn't be much of a challenge for them and they will be able to adapt quite well. DSD: We need to divide Olympic hopefuls into two categories. One should those who have qualified for the games and the IOC has announced they or their NOC will retain the quota if it is for a team event. My immediate concern is for those who are yet to qualify. They still are not sure of when the qualification tournaments will resume and most are currently under lockdown across the world. Do you see the process resuming before October 2020? AB: It doesn't seem like there will be any qualifiers soon. The directive that has been given to the International federations is that appropriate preparation must be allowed for the athletes, which is already being taken into consideration. We don't know when this lockdown will end, there are some countries which have issued advisories and travel restrictions for six months. At the moment all Olympic qualifiers have been suspended. As of now, the way things stand I do not see qualifiers resuming before the end of the year or early next year. But the good thing is that there are 15 months still left, so that gives ample time for scheduling also. The qualifiers would have been a challenge to organise if the games had gone ahead this year. So hopefully things will settle down and return to normalcy over the coming months and the sporting calendar can resume. DSD: You mentioned the Indian shooting team some time back. There were a lot of expectations from them ahead of the 2020 Games. They dominated the world stage last year by winning 16 gold medals in the ISSF World Cups and three of them also won titles at the season ending World Cup Finals. What would you advise the likes of Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker and Divyansh Singh Panwar who are all under 18 and may not have the experience to deal with the situation we are now facing. AB: I think a lot of responsibility will rest with the coaches and India has some excellent champions who are now coaching the national teams. I agree that for a very young athlete this kind of a scenario will be tough to handle. They need to be in constant touch with the coaches and I am sure our coaches will be up for the challenge. We have had exceptional success with our coaches in the last few years, and they will need to draw up a fresh plan for preparing for the games. Immediate training is obviously not possible given the situation. Coaches have a huge role to play now as mentors. I would tell the athletes to listen to their coaches. 2019 was obviously an unprecedented year for Indian shooting and it is unheard of for shooters to have back to back golden runs in our sport. Who knows maybe the postponement could be a blessing in disguise for India's shooters. DSD: On one hand you have shooting and then you have other sports like Badminton. Our star players like Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap were all struggling to qualify for the Olympics as tournaments were being cancelled all over. This one year delay gives them an opportunity to regain full fitness and go full throttle at the qualifiers when they finally begin. AB: The athletes who accept the prevailing situation and adapt to it quickly are the ones who will succeed. There should be no resistance to the postponement. I have spoken to the athletes all over the world as part of my role with the IOC and there is an immense amount of relief. The uncertainty around the games was causing a lot of pressure and stress. Given the situation, people are able to deal with bad news, but they are not able to deal with not knowing. They are more at ease now and they can get back to training as soon as things settle down, but more importantly, they can start re-calibrating their minds and their goals since the dates have been announced. I think the athletes will be able to deal with that.

Exclusive: Abhinav Bindra opens up on Tokyo Olympics, athletes' preparation and much more

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Zee News Rajasthan

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