Badminton World Championship medallist and one of the top Indian shuttlers, Sai Praneeth, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, SOPs by Sports Authority of India for the resumption of training, social distancing in badminton, Tokyo Olympics and much more.

DSD:&nbsp;Good to see you hale and hearty sai, the roadblocks are gradually being lifted and for any sportsperson that must be a huge relief...

Sai Praneeth: I have been keeping well. Since I returned from the All England Championship in mid-March, I have not been outdoors to train. I have tried to make do with the resources I have at home, but that is obviously not enough for us athletes, so really looking forward to getting back to proper training.

DSD:&nbsp;How has this period been for you Sai, for someone who has a jet-setting lifestyle has there been some reflection...

Sai Praneeth: My schedule has been extremely busy for the last one and a half years, so this break has given me a chance to spend some quality time with my wife and parents. I don't think I'll get another break like this during my professional career. However, it's been two and a half months now and I hope to return to the court soon. Although we still have to be very cautious. Travel is a huge concern and if the BWF tour resumes, the federation must ensure that players feel safe while going to other countries. I hope a vaccine is developed soon and we can return to somewhat of a normal life.

DSD: India is slowly opening up but the cases continue to rise, are you facing a dilemma about returning to training?

Sai Praneeth: It is definitely going to be a challenge. The only thing we can do is be extremely vigilant and cautious while being outdoors. Life isn't going to be the same till a vaccine is developed and we have to figure out a way in which we can safely return to training till that happens. We need to open things up slowly and ensure we follow the health protocols put out by the government.

<img alt="Sai Praneeth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a78a025-2c8e-4b37-9981-2cee1b6ad03c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1JP6EC.jpg" />

DSD: Have you gone through the SOPs released by SAI yesterday…badminton is allowed to get underway but mostly outdoor, &nbsp;with only singles players playing indoors. What do you make of those guidelines?

Sai Praneeth: I'm not sure if outdoor training will be possible at the moment. Even while training indoors, we will have to be very careful as we're not sure what effect the air conditioner has on the spread of the virus. Apart from the sports authority of India, I hope the BWF also comes out with a statement soon and offers some clarity on the calendar.

DSD: Have you heard anything from national coach Pullela Gopichand on when the training can resume in Hyderabad?

Sai Praneeth: The central government has given the go-ahead to training, but right now the Telangana government has not opened up sports complexes. The state lockdown will continue till May 31, and then I think we will be able to get back to practice sometime during the first week of June. We have been in touch with Gopichand sir and he said he will take a call at the end of this lockdown period when stadiums and sports complexes are likely to be opened up.

DSD: Now the SOPs&nbsp;put the onus on the sportsperson Sai, of ensuring there is no contact between each other, also of being careful while being in gyms etc. Lets be honest to each other, is all of this possible in elite sport...

Sai Praneeth: It will certainly be very tough for us. Badminton is an individual sport, but players cannot practice in isolation. We need to interact with our trainers, physical coaches and of course play with our partners. Every player doesn't have a personal coach, so training sessions will have to be planned in a certain manner to ensure that we follow the safety protocols. For a proper training session to take place, the entire support staff needs to be present on the court. There is no doubt that the onus is on the players to be cautious but I'm not sure what options we have.

DSD: I have been to your practice sessions in Hyderabad and one important aspect of the success of Indian badminton has been the camaraderie between players and how each has pushed the other. Now if you aren't going to interact with your fellow players then will it be enjoyable training sessions...

Sai Praneeth: As&nbsp;I said earlier, it will be next to impossible to train without a considerable number of people on the court. Sometimes we train in a 'one vs three' situation which improves the sharpness in our game. Isolated training sessions might be enough for us to maintain our game, but it will not be enough to take our skills to the next level.

<img alt="Sai Praneeth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2fc7c097-67a0-4ef8-abdb-3fba527d9198" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_NL4OO.jpg" />

DSD: Do you see skill levels going down considerably because of the lack of training and practice...

Sai Praneeth: I think we will get enough time to get back into the groove of things before the BWF calendar resumes, so there shouldn't be a substantial drop in the quality of play. I think we will need about 2-3 weeks to get back our fitness and endurance levels and about one month to get back in touch with our game. The good thing about this break is that players can recover from their injuries. The BWF calendar is so packed that players don't too often get the chance to fully get back in shape.

DSD: Let us look at the fitness part of it, basic sessions have been going on online but it's been two months without action on the courts. Badminton needs extreme levels of fitness and a lot of explosive power. That’s going to lead to injuries as well. How long will it take for you to return to those peak fitness levels?

Sai Praneeth: the first step towards rebuilding your fitness is regaining strength. If we start playing without properly strengthening our muscles, then the chances of getting injured are high. The first 2-3 weeks, I will be focussing on getting that strength back. Then we can start building our endurance levels and finally return to proper full-fledged on-court training. I don't think it will take that much time for us to find our touch again, because we have been playing the game for a long time. Once we start playing our strokes again, the muscle memory will kick in. Every player has a different process. After a couple of weeks of training, the players' bodies will start responding to the workouts and based on that, the subsequent planning can be done. I believe I will take about two or two and a half months to reach peak fitness levels.

DSD: With the Olympics pushed back by a year now and with the qualifying period frozen would you prefer to not play internationally this year if the season resumes...

Sai Praneeth: As of now there is no clarity on the Olympic qualification process, so it is difficult to take a call. The BWF might conduct the Olympic qualifying tournaments separately, independent of the world rankings. There is also a world championship next year, for which we need to retain our ranking to qualify. So, the BWF needs to come out with the qualifications process that will be followed for the Olympics for me to make a concrete decision.

DSD: Will players like you and others want to play in China this year, given with what has happened in the country, there are bound to be reservations about travelling...

Sai Praneeth: Yes, definitely. In fact, I would say I would be worried about travelling to any country. The risk of contracting the infection at the airports is high, so we need to be extra careful if travel is opened up. I don't see this concern going away till a vaccine is developed, till then that anxiety will always be there.

<img alt="Sai Praneeth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e65927b-5f23-4ef8-9015-82eb6921590d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1JP6GP.jpg" />

DSD: Have you had conversations within your group about the possibility of having an international circuit if a vaccine is not found. Would you take that risk Sai?

Sai Praneeth: The situation is changing on a daily basis. I don't think we know what things will look like 2-3 months from now, so there's no point overthinking our schedule. Of course, till a vaccine is found, we will be extremely tense while travelling and we will have to be very selective in the tournaments we play if the tour resumes. Other than that, all we can do is hope for the best and pray that circumstances improve. All players in the world are in the same boat, the majority of the world is on lockdown and we are dealing with an unprecedented crisis.

DSD: You have a huge advantage when it comes to qualifying for the Olympics..how does your process now change with the postponement?

Sai Praneeth: If we just talk about the Olympics, I might skip a few tournaments because my position is reasonably secure. I will look to participate in the India Open and then travel for a few tournaments leading up to the Olympics next year. If I get selected for the Olympics, then I do have a considerable amount of time for the event, which will allow me to skip tournaments. But I also have to look at other tournaments which will affect my ranking.

DSD: Till about March this year, you were preparing for the Olympics that was just 4 months away, how do you now mentally refocus for the postponed games which are 14 months away?

Sai Praneeth: Till the BWF does not release the qualification calendar, it is difficult for me to mentally prepare for the games. There is still a lot of time for the event and I can only concentrate fully on the Olympics once my place at the event is 100% secure. The long-term goal is to play at the Tokyo Olympics next year, but there are other small-term goals that I might set for myself.

Badminton World Championship medallist and one of the top Indian shuttlers, Sai Praneeth, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, SOPs by Sports Authority of India for the resumption of training, social distancing in badminton, Tokyo Olympics and much more.

Badminton World Championship medallist and one of the top Indian shuttlers, Sai Praneeth, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, SOPs by Sports Authority of India for the resumption of training, social distancing in badminton, Tokyo Olympics and much more. DSD: Good to see you hale and hearty sai, the roadblocks are gradually being lifted and for any sportsperson that must be a huge relief... Sai Praneeth: I have been keeping well. Since I returned from the All England Championship in mid-March, I have not been outdoors to train. I have tried to make do with the resources I have at home, but that is obviously not enough for us athletes, so really looking forward to getting back to proper training. DSD: How has this period been for you Sai, for someone who has a jet-setting lifestyle has there been some reflection... Sai Praneeth: My schedule has been extremely busy for the last one and a half years, so this break has given me a chance to spend some quality time with my wife and parents. I don't think I'll get another break like this during my professional career. However, it's been two and a half months now and I hope to return to the court soon. Although we still have to be very cautious. Travel is a huge concern and if the BWF tour resumes, the federation must ensure that players feel safe while going to other countries. I hope a vaccine is developed soon and we can return to somewhat of a normal life. DSD: India is slowly opening up but the cases continue to rise, are you facing a dilemma about returning to training? Sai Praneeth: It is definitely going to be a challenge. The only thing we can do is be extremely vigilant and cautious while being outdoors. Life isn't going to be the same till a vaccine is developed and we have to figure out a way in which we can safely return to training till that happens. We need to open things up slowly and ensure we follow the health protocols put out by the government. DSD: Have you gone through the SOPs released by SAI yesterday…badminton is allowed to get underway but mostly outdoor, with only singles players playing indoors. What do you make of those guidelines? Sai Praneeth: I'm not sure if outdoor training will be possible at the moment. Even while training indoors, we will have to be very careful as we're not sure what effect the air conditioner has on the spread of the virus. Apart from the sports authority of India, I hope the BWF also comes out with a statement soon and offers some clarity on the calendar. DSD: Have you heard anything from national coach Pullela Gopichand on when the training can resume in Hyderabad? Sai Praneeth: The central government has given the go-ahead to training, but right now the Telangana government has not opened up sports complexes. The state lockdown will continue till May 31, and then I think we will be able to get back to practice sometime during the first week of June. We have been in touch with Gopichand sir and he said he will take a call at the end of this lockdown period when stadiums and sports complexes are likely to be opened up. DSD: Now the SOPs put the onus on the sportsperson Sai, of ensuring there is no contact between each other, also of being careful while being in gyms etc. Lets be honest to each other, is all of this possible in elite sport... Sai Praneeth: It will certainly be very tough for us. Badminton is an individual sport, but players cannot practice in isolation. We need to interact with our trainers, physical coaches and of course play with our partners. Every player doesn't have a personal coach, so training sessions will have to be planned in a certain manner to ensure that we follow the safety protocols. For a proper training session to take place, the entire support staff needs to be present on the court. There is no doubt that the onus is on the players to be cautious but I'm not sure what options we have. DSD: I have been to your practice sessions in Hyderabad and one important aspect of the success of Indian badminton has been the camaraderie between players and how each has pushed the other. Now if you aren't going to interact with your fellow players then will it be enjoyable training sessions... Sai Praneeth: As I said earlier, it will be next to impossible to train without a considerable number of people on the court. Sometimes we train in a 'one vs three' situation which improves the sharpness in our game. Isolated training sessions might be enough for us to maintain our game, but it will not be enough to take our skills to the next level. DSD: Do you see skill levels going down considerably because of the lack of training and practice... Sai Praneeth: I think we will get enough time to get back into the groove of things before the BWF calendar resumes, so there shouldn't be a substantial drop in the quality of play. I think we will need about 2-3 weeks to get back our fitness and endurance levels and about one month to get back in touch with our game. The good thing about this break is that players can recover from their injuries. The BWF calendar is so packed that players don't too often get the chance to fully get back in shape. DSD: Let us look at the fitness part of it, basic sessions have been going on online but it's been two months without action on the courts. Badminton needs extreme levels of fitness and a lot of explosive power. That’s going to lead to injuries as well. How long will it take for you to return to those peak fitness levels? Sai Praneeth: the first step towards rebuilding your fitness is regaining strength. If we start playing without properly strengthening our muscles, then the chances of getting injured are high. The first 2-3 weeks, I will be focussing on getting that strength back. Then we can start building our endurance levels and finally return to proper full-fledged on-court training. I don't think it will take that much time for us to find our touch again, because we have been playing the game for a long time. Once we start playing our strokes again, the muscle memory will kick in. Every player has a different process. After a couple of weeks of training, the players' bodies will start responding to the workouts and based on that, the subsequent planning can be done. I believe I will take about two or two and a half months to reach peak fitness levels. DSD: With the Olympics pushed back by a year now and with the qualifying period frozen would you prefer to not play internationally this year if the season resumes... Sai Praneeth: As of now there is no clarity on the Olympic qualification process, so it is difficult to take a call. The BWF might conduct the Olympic qualifying tournaments separately, independent of the world rankings. There is also a world championship next year, for which we need to retain our ranking to qualify. So, the BWF needs to come out with the qualifications process that will be followed for the Olympics for me to make a concrete decision. DSD: Will players like you and others want to play in China this year, given with what has happened in the country, there are bound to be reservations about travelling... Sai Praneeth: Yes, definitely. In fact, I would say I would be worried about travelling to any country. The risk of contracting the infection at the airports is high, so we need to be extra careful if travel is opened up. I don't see this concern going away till a vaccine is developed, till then that anxiety will always be there. DSD: Have you had conversations within your group about the possibility of having an international circuit if a vaccine is not found. Would you take that risk Sai? Sai Praneeth: The situation is changing on a daily basis. I don't think we know what things will look like 2-3 months from now, so there's no point overthinking our schedule. Of course, till a vaccine is found, we will be extremely tense while travelling and we will have to be very selective in the tournaments we play if the tour resumes. Other than that, all we can do is hope for the best and pray that circumstances improve. All players in the world are in the same boat, the majority of the world is on lockdown and we are dealing with an unprecedented crisis. DSD: You have a huge advantage when it comes to qualifying for the Olympics..how does your process now change with the postponement? Sai Praneeth: If we just talk about the Olympics, I might skip a few tournaments because my position is reasonably secure. I will look to participate in the India Open and then travel for a few tournaments leading up to the Olympics next year. If I get selected for the Olympics, then I do have a considerable amount of time for the event, which will allow me to skip tournaments. But I also have to look at other tournaments which will affect my ranking. DSD: Till about March this year, you were preparing for the Olympics that was just 4 months away, how do you now mentally refocus for the postponed games which are 14 months away? Sai Praneeth: Till the BWF does not release the qualification calendar, it is difficult for me to mentally prepare for the games. There is still a lot of time for the event and I can only concentrate fully on the Olympics once my place at the event is 100% secure. The long-term goal is to play at the Tokyo Olympics next year, but there are other small-term goals that I might set for myself.

Sai Praneeth: Isolated training impossible in badminton

Football is one of the sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic massively. While the financial ramifications of the wiped out calendar are unprecedented, football is slowly coming back to life with Bundesliga’s resumption. Indian football, meanwhile, saw the final of Indian Super League (ISL) 2020 being played behind closed doors just when the dreaded virus had made its presence felt in India but since then it has been a complete stop when it comes to playing matches or even training outdoors given the strict lockdown measures.&nbsp;

Indian football team’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier against defending Asian Champions Qatar has been already postponed and the future calendar when it comes to international matches still remains under dark clouds.&nbsp;

India National Team coach Igor Stimac, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, discussed how the pandemic impacted his plans, the structure of Indian football and many more.

“I was joking that if there is someone that will benefit from this Covid-19 break then it is Indian football as we are used to long breaks. We have a break of 6-7 months every year and we should not have a problem with injuries as the players are used to this pause”, Stimac said.

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="360690ad-57cb-41dd-a4f8-c66ff97edfc7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1447642.jpg" />

Since Stimac took over the charge of the Indian football team, the Blue Tigers have had some inspirational performances on the pitch, the most notable ones being the goalless draw against Qatar (away) and 1-1 stalemate against Afghanistan (away). While there have been disappointments in the form of 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in front of a capacity crowd in Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, the Indian football team has shown a lot of improvement when it comes to playing a positive brand of football and scrapping the long-ball tactics in big matches.&nbsp;

Stimac is of the view that building a team for the future takes time as most of the players are young and lacking confidence. However, the Croatian is not content with some of the results from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as he said that the lack of experience and charismatic decisions cost India.&nbsp;

“I am excited even much more than before after 12 Months as India Coach. We have proved that we can change many things in such a short time. The task was not easy to change from a kick and chase football to a more possession-based football. We have introduced many young players with more technical abilities. It was not easy and we knew we were going to suffer but this was the only way to stabilise the results in the future,” Stimac said.

"We are building up a new team which should achieve its high level in the next 4-5 years. We have 25 players who are between 18-23 years old. I am not happy with regards to the results as we were expecting some more points from the Qualification Tournament. Looking back we did not take our opportunities. I thought we could surprise Oman but lack of experience and lack of charismatic decisions on the field cost us. India is no longer the team that loses easy games, but we are not scoring enough goals,” he added.

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cedad619-5ad1-4669-802a-a3c0f380baae" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1LE5PL.jpg" />

The 1998 FIFA World Cup semifinalist Stimac has been pretty vocal about reducing the number of foreign players in India’s domestic tournaments like ISL and I-League for the betterment of Indian talent. Stimac further revealed that the footballing authorities are in talks with the Indian government about citizenship regulations for players.&nbsp;

“I am feeling depressed and tired at repeatedly saying we have to reduce the number of foreign players in Indian domestic football. It will take time to grow up as a football nation, the season has to be longer for players to play much more games than now. If the Government can change the citizenship regulations, then we can get 7-8 players of Indian origin who are playing abroad and that would change our results dramatically”.

The Croatian also elaborated why the season for Indian Football should be longer&nbsp;compared to other domestic seasons across the world. “We have been working behind closed doors on many aspects. One is regarding the selection of players. We have been talking to the government to change the citizenship regulations. We were also in touch with FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) to increase the length of the season and also to have a long-term calendar season plus the need to restructure the Durand Cup and the Super Cup. Going forward what will be crucial is the number of games. We cannot stop our season at the end of February and football needs to be played until mid-May. I am told that it cannot happen as it overlaps with the broadcast of the IPL but broadcast is not important, what is important is that players play more games to improve their football and bring more quality to the national team,”

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9bf1cba7-f30d-4ccc-a8ba-8ee367d04ea7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1LE5WQ.jpg" />

Stimac had big plans for the Indian team for the year 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered everything. The Croatian said that India were scheduled to go to Turkey and Croatia in April and May for pre-season training camps and play 10 friendly matches only for the dreaded virus to wipe off the sporting calendar and the plans.&nbsp;

“The pandemic has destroyed the plans we had made which were accepted by both the government and the AIFF. We were to go on pre-season training camps to Turkey and Croatia in April and May and we were supposed to play ten friendly games. We are now using this time to improve the education of our players including theoretical points and I am very happy that the players are all following individual training plans that we have sent them and communicating daily on our team groups”.

“The pandemic could see certain rules and regulations be changed globally to rely on home-grown players. This is the perfect opportunity for India to dramatically change the structure of Indian Football. Half the ISL clubs are facing financial difficulties and if all the clubs are not on the same level financially then what is the point of the competition. The competition is good only if everyone starts with the same amount of money and the same regulations,” the Head Coach concluded.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Football is one of the sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic massively. While the financial ramifications of the wiped out calendar are unprecedented, football is slowly coming back to life with Bundesliga’s resumption.

Football is one of the sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic massively. While the financial ramifications of the wiped out calendar are unprecedented, football is slowly coming back to life with Bundesliga’s resumption. Indian football, meanwhile, saw the final of Indian Super League (ISL) 2020 being played behind closed doors just when the dreaded virus had made its presence felt in India but since then it has been a complete stop when it comes to playing matches or even training outdoors given the strict lockdown measures. Indian football team’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier against defending Asian Champions Qatar has been already postponed and the future calendar when it comes to international matches still remains under dark clouds. India National Team coach Igor Stimac, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, discussed how the pandemic impacted his plans, the structure of Indian football and many more. “I was joking that if there is someone that will benefit from this Covid-19 break then it is Indian football as we are used to long breaks. We have a break of 6-7 months every year and we should not have a problem with injuries as the players are used to this pause”, Stimac said. Since Stimac took over the charge of the Indian football team, the Blue Tigers have had some inspirational performances on the pitch, the most notable ones being the goalless draw against Qatar (away) and 1-1 stalemate against Afghanistan (away). While there have been disappointments in the form of 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in front of a capacity crowd in Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, the Indian football team has shown a lot of improvement when it comes to playing a positive brand of football and scrapping the long-ball tactics in big matches. Stimac is of the view that building a team for the future takes time as most of the players are young and lacking confidence. However, the Croatian is not content with some of the results from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as he said that the lack of experience and charismatic decisions cost India. “I am excited even much more than before after 12 Months as India Coach. We have proved that we can change many things in such a short time. The task was not easy to change from a kick and chase football to a more possession-based football. We have introduced many young players with more technical abilities. It was not easy and we knew we were going to suffer but this was the only way to stabilise the results in the future,” Stimac said. "We are building up a new team which should achieve its high level in the next 4-5 years. We have 25 players who are between 18-23 years old. I am not happy with regards to the results as we were expecting some more points from the Qualification Tournament. Looking back we did not take our opportunities. I thought we could surprise Oman but lack of experience and lack of charismatic decisions on the field cost us. India is no longer the team that loses easy games, but we are not scoring enough goals,” he added. The 1998 FIFA World Cup semifinalist Stimac has been pretty vocal about reducing the number of foreign players in India’s domestic tournaments like ISL and I-League for the betterment of Indian talent. Stimac further revealed that the footballing authorities are in talks with the Indian government about citizenship regulations for players. “I am feeling depressed and tired at repeatedly saying we have to reduce the number of foreign players in Indian domestic football. It will take time to grow up as a football nation, the season has to be longer for players to play much more games than now. If the Government can change the citizenship regulations, then we can get 7-8 players of Indian origin who are playing abroad and that would change our results dramatically”. The Croatian also elaborated why the season for Indian Football should be longer compared to other domestic seasons across the world. “We have been working behind closed doors on many aspects. One is regarding the selection of players. We have been talking to the government to change the citizenship regulations. We were also in touch with FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) to increase the length of the season and also to have a long-term calendar season plus the need to restructure the Durand Cup and the Super Cup. Going forward what will be crucial is the number of games. We cannot stop our season at the end of February and football needs to be played until mid-May. I am told that it cannot happen as it overlaps with the broadcast of the IPL but broadcast is not important, what is important is that players play more games to improve their football and bring more quality to the national team,” Stimac had big plans for the Indian team for the year 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered everything. The Croatian said that India were scheduled to go to Turkey and Croatia in April and May for pre-season training camps and play 10 friendly matches only for the dreaded virus to wipe off the sporting calendar and the plans. “The pandemic has destroyed the plans we had made which were accepted by both the government and the AIFF. We were to go on pre-season training camps to Turkey and Croatia in April and May and we were supposed to play ten friendly games. We are now using this time to improve the education of our players including theoretical points and I am very happy that the players are all following individual training plans that we have sent them and communicating daily on our team groups”. “The pandemic could see certain rules and regulations be changed globally to rely on home-grown players. This is the perfect opportunity for India to dramatically change the structure of Indian Football. Half the ISL clubs are facing financial difficulties and if all the clubs are not on the same level financially then what is the point of the competition. The competition is good only if everyone starts with the same amount of money and the same regulations,” the Head Coach concluded.

Igor Stimac:  Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game

India National Team coach Igor Stimac, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, discussed how the pandemic impacted his plans, the structure of Indian football and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Igor, how have you been through this entire period?

Igor Stimac: The coronavirus crisis has created a multitude of problems all over the world, many countries, including India and Croatia, are suffering. Fortunately, the situation in Croatia is improving, the lockdown measures here have been eased and we are trying to return to somewhat of a normal life.

DSD: From what I have been reading, Croatia seems to have handled this crisis very well. Just above 2000 cases and deaths limited to under 100.

Igor Stimac: Yes, our government deserves the praise of how proactive they have been during this crisis. However, we are also blessed that we are a small country and so not have a very dense population, hence it was easier for us to isolate and remain in a secure environment.

DSD: Even the football season is about to resume at the end of this month in your country...

Igor Stimac: It has been announced that the Croatian league will begin at the end of May, which is fantastic news. There will be no crowd at the venues, it is important that we do not put anyone's health at risk. The return of the league is great news not just for the football league, but also for sport in Croatia in general. People have been desperate for top-level competitions and I'm delighted that they will get to see some action.

DSD: Lots of debate surrounding the leagues at the moment, if leagues should freeze the table and end the season as we have seen in Holland and France, or resume matches so that the campaign can be completed, the English premier league is attempting to deal with that issue right now and there is obviously a lot of money involved.

Igor Stimac: These are highly lucrative leagues and the authorities are losing money on a daily basis while the leagues remain suspended. So, even playing the game behind closed doors would be highly beneficial for the major leagues in Europe. In Croatia, the situation is completely different, we are a much smaller country and it is easier to hold matches here in a bio-secure environment. We are all missing top-level football and I just hope that all the players return to action very soon.

DSD: The next few months seem to be a big worry now in your country which sees a lot of tourists come in. The economy needs the money but people coming in also present a health risk.it’s a tightrope isn't it...

Igor Stimac: It is a huge problem for Croatia but hopefully we will go through this period without many economic difficulties. One-third of Croatia's income comes from tourism. Every summer, thousands of people come to the country and get a taste of the culture, food and the stunning scenic beauty. &nbsp;There is a discussion to declare Croatia a COVID-19 free country, which will allow tourists to enter and boost the economy. Hopefully, that will be possible by July and we can get some money pumping into the economy.

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9bddd96c-861a-4d43-8f65-5a206e189c03" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Par7354064.jpg" />

DSD: As things start opening up, everyone will have to grapple with that decision, what is the balance between money and health?

Igor Stimac: Yes, it is a very delicate situation. Every government needs to protect its own people, inviting people from those countries which have been greatly affected by the crisis into Croatia, can endanger our own population. This is the concern with opening up international travel. These decisions have to be taken by the government while keeping the best interests of the people in mind.

DSD: We just saw the german Bundesliga season resume this past weekend - and it felt almost surreal to see the empty stadiums, hear the echoes of the ball being kicked around, the coaches yelling instructions from the touchline... What are your thoughts on what appears to be football's new reality for at least the next few months?

Igor Stimac: We need to get used to a new way of life, a new way of playing and watching football. This is going to be 'the new normal' for a while now, we cannot change it and must accept the situation. We need to be disciplined and cautious so that the second wave of the virus does not affect a large number of people. Football is very close to all our hearts but it's not the most important thing in the world. The health and safety of people has to be the ultimate priority. Let's follow the health protocols and fulfil our duties as global citizens.

DSD: As an elite manager, do you think that teams and players will have to prepare any differently for matches in this sort of environment? Because we're expecting leagues across the continent to also restart behind closed doors next month, how do teams adapt to that?

Igor Stimac: I think the players will miss the atmosphere in the stadiums, there is a certain adrenaline rush that players get when they step out in a stadium in front of the fans, but in terms of the way the game is played, it is not going to be that different. I believe that we are going to see more injuries because the break was very long and players have not had time to return to their peak fitness. The European players are not used to such a long break of two months. I was joking that if there is someone that will benefit from this COVID-19 break then it is Indian football as we are used to long breaks.we have a break of 6-7 months every year and we should not have a problem with injuries as the players are used to this pause.

DSD: This month last year was when you first took charge of the Indian football team...How do you feel about your first 12 months in the job.

Igor Stimac: I am more excited than I was 12 months back. We have proved that we can change many many things in such a short period of time. The task was not easy to change from a 'kick and chase' style of football to a more possession-based game. We have introduced many young players with more technical abilities. It was not easy and we knew we were going to suffer but this was the only way to stabilise the results in the future.we are building up a new team which should achieve its peak in the next 4-5 years.we have 25 players who are between 18-23 yeas old. I am not happy with regards to the results as we were expecting some more points from the qualification tournament .looking back we did not take our opportunities. I thought we could surprise Oman but lack of experience and lack of charismatic decisions on the field cost us.india is no longer the team that loses easy games, but we are not scoring enough goals either. All three goals we scored from qualifiers came from set-pieces.i am feeling depressed and tired at repeatedly saying we have to reduce the number of foreign players in Indian domestic football. It will take time to grow as a football nation, the season has to be longer for players to play more games than they currently play. If the government can change the citizenship regulations then we can get 7-8 players of Indian origin who are playing abroad and that would change our results dramatically.

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="27fe3e54-1152-4798-80d6-1fa60d1296dc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Par7311305.jpg" />

DSD: Indian football undoubtedly needs structural changes, where do you see Indian football in five years, what is your road-map?

Igor Stimac: we have been working behind closed doors on many aspects. One is regarding the selection of players. We have been talking to the government to change the citizenship regulations. There is a need to change the system of grassroots football as well so that a high number of youngsters start playing the game. Parallelly, we were also in touch with football sports development limited to increase the length of the season and also to have a long term calendar season plus the need to restructure the Durand Cup and the super cup. Going forward what will be crucial is the number of games in a campaign. We cannot stop our season at the end of February and football needs to be played until mid-may. I am told that it cannot happen as it overlaps with the broadcast of the IPL, but broadcast is not that important, what is crucial s that players play more games to improve their football and bring more quality to the national team.

DSD: What will the overall impact of the coronavirus be on Indian football - World Cup qualifiers in March and June have been cancelled, rest of the calendar looking grim.

Igor Stimac: The pandemic has destroyed the plans we had made which were accepted by both the government and the AIFF. We were to go on pre-season training camps to turkey and Croatia in April and May and we were supposed to play ten friendly games. As I said before, this break should not affect our national team to a great extent. We are now using this time to improve the education of our players including theoretical points and I am very happy that the players are all following individual training plans that we have sent them and communicating daily on our team groups.

DSD: You were, of course, part of a golden generation of Croatian football - the team that took the country to their first major tournaments after independence...Would you say your third-placed finish on World Cup debut in 1998 arguably had an even bigger impact on Croatian football than the runner-up spot from two years ago?

Igor Stimac: It was a special tournament. It was the first time we played in a world cup in 1998 as a nation and our performances stunned the entire world, but as a team, we weren't surprised at all. Six of the players, including me, were part of the team that won the u-20 world championship in 1987, so we were confident in our abilities and knew that we could reach the latter stages of the tournament. Many people are now comparing the 1998 and 2018 sides and pitting them against each other. I believe that if there was a hypothetical match between the two sides, my 1998 team would win, but then again I might be a bit biased. There is no doubt that both teams had a great impact on Croatia. Both of those teams are filled with world-class players and it is incredible that a small nation like Croatia was able to do so well at the world cup. It's not just football, Croatia has a fantastic sporting culture. There are 100 Olympic medalists in my city, split, which has a population of about 180,000. It just shows how talented we are as a nation. It is such a stark contrast when you compare it to India, which has a population of over a billion people but has won less than 30 Olympic medals.

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d58962c-3b2d-420d-a2c4-9dac39d84b4e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_SAPA980704645270.jpg" />

DSD: After the heroics at the 2018 World Cup - Croatia would no doubt have gone into the Euros that were supposed to be held this summer with expectations sky-high. We know the tournament has been pushed back by a year - how do you think that impacts Croatia's chances especially with stars like Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, - even Ivan Perisic to an extent - not getting any younger.

Igor Stimac: Talented youngsters are moving up in the ranks of Croatian football, so as a fan or as a coach for that matter., I'm not really worried about the future. Modric, Mandzukic and Rakitic have been wonderful servants to the country, but the future of Croatian football is in safe hands. Whenever the young players have been called upon to the national team, they have always performed very well and sometimes even better than the experienced ones. The young players are great prospects and they have the hunger to excel at the highest level. I believe that sometimes you benefit from throwing the youngsters in the line of fire.

DSD: Since we are talking about the euros - can I get you to discuss who you think are realistic title contenders for the tournament? Do you see the break in football due to the coronavirus this year have any sort of lasting impact 12 to 15 months later?

Igor Stimac: It is difficult for me to say what the situation will look like 12-15 months from now. It definitely is going to be a long break for many countries. I just hope that there aren't many injuries and teams are able to bring their full strength squads to the tournament. I'm looking forward to the fact that all of us will be able to celebrate the game once again. I can only speculate on how different teams will be heading into the euros, but what is important is to stand united and celebrate the game.

DSD: Will this pandemic though has un-intended positive consequences. The big money transfers are likely to be stalled this year so clubs will have to rely on homegrown talent.

Igor Stimac: It could have long term consequences for the clubs in India. The pandemic could see certain rules and regulations changed globally, which results in clubs relying more on their home-grown players. This is the perfect opportunity for India to dramatically change the structure of football in the country. Half the ISL clubs are facing financial difficulties and if all the clubs are not on the same level financially, then what is the point of the competition? The competition is high only if everyone starts with the same amount of money and is under the framework of the same regulations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

India National Team coach Igor Stimac, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, discussed how the pandemic impacted his plans, the structure of Indian football and much more.

India National Team coach Igor Stimac, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, discussed how the pandemic impacted his plans, the structure of Indian football and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Igor, how have you been through this entire period? Igor Stimac: The coronavirus crisis has created a multitude of problems all over the world, many countries, including India and Croatia, are suffering. Fortunately, the situation in Croatia is improving, the lockdown measures here have been eased and we are trying to return to somewhat of a normal life. DSD: From what I have been reading, Croatia seems to have handled this crisis very well. Just above 2000 cases and deaths limited to under 100. Igor Stimac: Yes, our government deserves the praise of how proactive they have been during this crisis. However, we are also blessed that we are a small country and so not have a very dense population, hence it was easier for us to isolate and remain in a secure environment. DSD: Even the football season is about to resume at the end of this month in your country... Igor Stimac: It has been announced that the Croatian league will begin at the end of May, which is fantastic news. There will be no crowd at the venues, it is important that we do not put anyone's health at risk. The return of the league is great news not just for the football league, but also for sport in Croatia in general. People have been desperate for top-level competitions and I'm delighted that they will get to see some action. DSD: Lots of debate surrounding the leagues at the moment, if leagues should freeze the table and end the season as we have seen in Holland and France, or resume matches so that the campaign can be completed, the English premier league is attempting to deal with that issue right now and there is obviously a lot of money involved. Igor Stimac: These are highly lucrative leagues and the authorities are losing money on a daily basis while the leagues remain suspended. So, even playing the game behind closed doors would be highly beneficial for the major leagues in Europe. In Croatia, the situation is completely different, we are a much smaller country and it is easier to hold matches here in a bio-secure environment. We are all missing top-level football and I just hope that all the players return to action very soon. DSD: The next few months seem to be a big worry now in your country which sees a lot of tourists come in. The economy needs the money but people coming in also present a health risk.it’s a tightrope isn't it... Igor Stimac: It is a huge problem for Croatia but hopefully we will go through this period without many economic difficulties. One-third of Croatia's income comes from tourism. Every summer, thousands of people come to the country and get a taste of the culture, food and the stunning scenic beauty. There is a discussion to declare Croatia a COVID-19 free country, which will allow tourists to enter and boost the economy. Hopefully, that will be possible by July and we can get some money pumping into the economy. DSD: As things start opening up, everyone will have to grapple with that decision, what is the balance between money and health? Igor Stimac: Yes, it is a very delicate situation. Every government needs to protect its own people, inviting people from those countries which have been greatly affected by the crisis into Croatia, can endanger our own population. This is the concern with opening up international travel. These decisions have to be taken by the government while keeping the best interests of the people in mind. DSD: We just saw the german Bundesliga season resume this past weekend - and it felt almost surreal to see the empty stadiums, hear the echoes of the ball being kicked around, the coaches yelling instructions from the touchline... What are your thoughts on what appears to be football's new reality for at least the next few months? Igor Stimac: We need to get used to a new way of life, a new way of playing and watching football. This is going to be 'the new normal' for a while now, we cannot change it and must accept the situation. We need to be disciplined and cautious so that the second wave of the virus does not affect a large number of people. Football is very close to all our hearts but it's not the most important thing in the world. The health and safety of people has to be the ultimate priority. Let's follow the health protocols and fulfil our duties as global citizens. DSD: As an elite manager, do you think that teams and players will have to prepare any differently for matches in this sort of environment? Because we're expecting leagues across the continent to also restart behind closed doors next month, how do teams adapt to that? Igor Stimac: I think the players will miss the atmosphere in the stadiums, there is a certain adrenaline rush that players get when they step out in a stadium in front of the fans, but in terms of the way the game is played, it is not going to be that different. I believe that we are going to see more injuries because the break was very long and players have not had time to return to their peak fitness. The European players are not used to such a long break of two months. I was joking that if there is someone that will benefit from this COVID-19 break then it is Indian football as we are used to long breaks.we have a break of 6-7 months every year and we should not have a problem with injuries as the players are used to this pause. DSD: This month last year was when you first took charge of the Indian football team...How do you feel about your first 12 months in the job. Igor Stimac: I am more excited than I was 12 months back. We have proved that we can change many many things in such a short period of time. The task was not easy to change from a 'kick and chase' style of football to a more possession-based game. We have introduced many young players with more technical abilities. It was not easy and we knew we were going to suffer but this was the only way to stabilise the results in the future.we are building up a new team which should achieve its peak in the next 4-5 years.we have 25 players who are between 18-23 yeas old. I am not happy with regards to the results as we were expecting some more points from the qualification tournament .looking back we did not take our opportunities. I thought we could surprise Oman but lack of experience and lack of charismatic decisions on the field cost us.india is no longer the team that loses easy games, but we are not scoring enough goals either. All three goals we scored from qualifiers came from set-pieces.i am feeling depressed and tired at repeatedly saying we have to reduce the number of foreign players in Indian domestic football. It will take time to grow as a football nation, the season has to be longer for players to play more games than they currently play. If the government can change the citizenship regulations then we can get 7-8 players of Indian origin who are playing abroad and that would change our results dramatically. DSD: Indian football undoubtedly needs structural changes, where do you see Indian football in five years, what is your road-map? Igor Stimac: we have been working behind closed doors on many aspects. One is regarding the selection of players. We have been talking to the government to change the citizenship regulations. There is a need to change the system of grassroots football as well so that a high number of youngsters start playing the game. Parallelly, we were also in touch with football sports development limited to increase the length of the season and also to have a long term calendar season plus the need to restructure the Durand Cup and the super cup. Going forward what will be crucial is the number of games in a campaign. We cannot stop our season at the end of February and football needs to be played until mid-may. I am told that it cannot happen as it overlaps with the broadcast of the IPL, but broadcast is not that important, what is crucial s that players play more games to improve their football and bring more quality to the national team. DSD: What will the overall impact of the coronavirus be on Indian football - World Cup qualifiers in March and June have been cancelled, rest of the calendar looking grim. Igor Stimac: The pandemic has destroyed the plans we had made which were accepted by both the government and the AIFF. We were to go on pre-season training camps to turkey and Croatia in April and May and we were supposed to play ten friendly games. As I said before, this break should not affect our national team to a great extent. We are now using this time to improve the education of our players including theoretical points and I am very happy that the players are all following individual training plans that we have sent them and communicating daily on our team groups. DSD: You were, of course, part of a golden generation of Croatian football - the team that took the country to their first major tournaments after independence...Would you say your third-placed finish on World Cup debut in 1998 arguably had an even bigger impact on Croatian football than the runner-up spot from two years ago? Igor Stimac: It was a special tournament. It was the first time we played in a world cup in 1998 as a nation and our performances stunned the entire world, but as a team, we weren't surprised at all. Six of the players, including me, were part of the team that won the u-20 world championship in 1987, so we were confident in our abilities and knew that we could reach the latter stages of the tournament. Many people are now comparing the 1998 and 2018 sides and pitting them against each other. I believe that if there was a hypothetical match between the two sides, my 1998 team would win, but then again I might be a bit biased. There is no doubt that both teams had a great impact on Croatia. Both of those teams are filled with world-class players and it is incredible that a small nation like Croatia was able to do so well at the world cup. It's not just football, Croatia has a fantastic sporting culture. There are 100 Olympic medalists in my city, split, which has a population of about 180,000. It just shows how talented we are as a nation. It is such a stark contrast when you compare it to India, which has a population of over a billion people but has won less than 30 Olympic medals. DSD: After the heroics at the 2018 World Cup - Croatia would no doubt have gone into the Euros that were supposed to be held this summer with expectations sky-high. We know the tournament has been pushed back by a year - how do you think that impacts Croatia's chances especially with stars like Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, - even Ivan Perisic to an extent - not getting any younger. Igor Stimac: Talented youngsters are moving up in the ranks of Croatian football, so as a fan or as a coach for that matter., I'm not really worried about the future. Modric, Mandzukic and Rakitic have been wonderful servants to the country, but the future of Croatian football is in safe hands. Whenever the young players have been called upon to the national team, they have always performed very well and sometimes even better than the experienced ones. The young players are great prospects and they have the hunger to excel at the highest level. I believe that sometimes you benefit from throwing the youngsters in the line of fire. DSD: Since we are talking about the euros - can I get you to discuss who you think are realistic title contenders for the tournament? Do you see the break in football due to the coronavirus this year have any sort of lasting impact 12 to 15 months later? Igor Stimac: It is difficult for me to say what the situation will look like 12-15 months from now. It definitely is going to be a long break for many countries. I just hope that there aren't many injuries and teams are able to bring their full strength squads to the tournament. I'm looking forward to the fact that all of us will be able to celebrate the game once again. I can only speculate on how different teams will be heading into the euros, but what is important is to stand united and celebrate the game. DSD: Will this pandemic though has un-intended positive consequences. The big money transfers are likely to be stalled this year so clubs will have to rely on homegrown talent. Igor Stimac: It could have long term consequences for the clubs in India. The pandemic could see certain rules and regulations changed globally, which results in clubs relying more on their home-grown players. This is the perfect opportunity for India to dramatically change the structure of football in the country. Half the ISL clubs are facing financial difficulties and if all the clubs are not on the same level financially, then what is the point of the competition? The competition is high only if everyone starts with the same amount of money and is under the framework of the same regulations.

Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game

South African cricketer and&nbsp;captain of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Dane Vilas, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on lockdown experience, resumption of training for cricketers, social distancing in cricket, T20 World Cup, the financial impact of COVID-19 on the game, and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Thank you for your time, Dane.&nbsp;How have you been through this period and how has life in lockdown been?

Dane Vilas: It's been strange and difficult at times. Given the situation around the world, I have been keeping well. Looking from the outside, it does seem as if things are getting better.

DSD: This virus has actually struck much closer than most imagine, your county chairman David Hodgkiss passed away after contracting the virus at the end of March.

Dane Vilas: It was very sad to lose him a couple of months back. He was a key figure at the Lancashire cricket club, a lovely man and someone I had a great relationship with. He was extremely passionate about the game and it is a great loss for the game and our club. Everyone is susceptible to the virus and it is crucial to stay safe in these trying times.

DSD: The lockdown has been pretty strict in England, much like in India, so how is your family coping in these times?

Dane Vilas: It has been difficult. When the lockdown began, we were only allowed to be outdoors for about 1 or 2 hours in a day, fortunately, there is a huge park in the Vicinity, so at least I was able to take the kids out for a bike ride. The good thing is that people are adhering to social distancing rules. Some of the restrictions have been relaxed lately, so people have been leaving their homes more often. I don't get the opportunity to spend much quality time with my family that often because I'm usually travelling during the county season, so in that sense, this is a welcome change. I have a 5-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter and it is great to be able to spend two whole months with them at a stretch. I'm obviously missing the game of cricket and sport in general. Social interaction has been minimal and that is a strange thing to get used to.so overall it has been a bittersweet time.

DSD: Sport is usually the great healer and we have seen the example of Rugby doing that in South Africa but at this time almost every sportsperson around the world is feeling helpless and perhaps frustrated as well.

Dane Vilas: Sport is definitely a massive industry and forms a huge part of many people's lives. Some people plan their whole week around a sporting event. Sport is an escape for people, it can help them relax and provide much-needed entertainment. It is hugely important for the mental well-being of the viewers and the players. All of us players want to return to action, so at the moment we're feeling like caged lions. The weather in England over the last couple of months has been perfect for cricket, so it is very frustrating to not play. However, I realise that the world is facing bigger problems at the moment. Various sports like football are trying to work around the problem and hopefully, cricket will resume soon. It is great to be able to entertain people and I can't wait to do that again.

<img alt="Dane Vilas" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a31f7cb6-ad00-4d31-8e58-aff446e9f35a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del8383965.jpg" />

DSD: The ECB has taken the lead in allowing for limited training to resume across counties, so how has it been for you?

Dane Vilas: Right now, the domestic sides aren't allowed to practice outdoors. They are only allowing the national team to train on a trial basis.the priority for the ECB&nbsp;is to hold the test series against West Indies and Pakistan in the near future, so they will assess how safe it is to train and based on that, they will then create guidelines for the domestic players to return to training. I think it makes sense to open up training with a small group of players, so initially, only the bowlers will be able to practice.

DSD: Can social distancing happen on a cricket ground and during a match, it is, after all, a team sport and what is the fun in not having contact when say you score a 50 or a hundred or a bowler takes a catch.

Dane Vilas: In any team sport, the camaraderie among the players forms the essence of the game. It is definitely going to be difficult to practice social distancing while playing. However, I believe that players will be willing to make these small compromises for the sport to resume.

DSD: How will the life and career of a professional cricketer change now. You for one have a contract with Lancashire&nbsp;but if the season continues to get delayed then revenue gets affected and then there is also the trickle-down effect which ultimately gets down to the players...

Dane Vilas: Many county clubs, including Lancashire, have already been financially hit. All us players have taken a pay cut to help the organisation deal with the shutdown. We are fortunate that we still have our jobs, but I think a lot of employees are at the risk of losing theirs because of this crisis. There will definitely a trickle-down effect and we have already started to see the first stages of that phenomenon. I believe the whole landscape of the world will change because of the virus and cricket is no different. All we can do as sportspersons are adapt to the new normal. All of us in some way have adapted to the lockdown and that is the template to move forward. We have found ways to communicate with each other with the help of technology, with video calls and zoom meetings, which is a positive outcome of the crisis. Every adverse situation provides us with a new opportunity and I'm sure we will come out of this crisis stronger.

<img alt="Dane Vilas" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c577298-8506-4093-84d3-8e57b0ab1db6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del8385942.jpg" />

DSD: There are other revenue streams that are going to be affected, a lot was riding on the hundred for one in England but that’s been shelved.

Dane Vilas: It is extremely disappointing that the hundred has been cancelled. I know that the organisers had been working on the event for a few years and I'm sure it would have done wonders for the game of cricket in England. There was so much hype during the world cup in England in 2019 and all that momentum was supposed to culminate with the inaugural season of the hundred. Now the authorities have to go back to the drawing board and re-plan everything, which is a lot of hard work. It is hard to really predict how badly we will be hit in terms of our finances, we will only be able to get a clear answer in a couple of years because this crisis will certainly have a long-term effect on the game. As players, these things are not really in our control and we need to find a way to make the most of the situation.

DSD: Dane, you play across the world in T20 leagues, huge question marks over the IPL, the PSL got affected in March, will there always be a doubt in the minds of players when they step on a flight.

Dane Vilas: Over the last few years, there are many players who earn their basic living through these T20 leagues across the world. These specialised T20 players will suffer huge losses. The whole ecosystem will take a hit, that means it will affect everyone from the top dogs to the lesser players. There are travel restrictions present across the world and we have no idea when they will be lifted. The hardest part is not knowing when this crisis will be over or not knowing when we will be out on the field. There is no goal to work towards right now, so it takes time to come to terms with that reality.

As far as the risk of travelling is concerned, it completely depends on the individual. A young cricketer who lives alone might be willing to take that risk because he can isolate himself. On the other hand, a cricketer who lives with his family has young kids and is constantly in contact with his parents, will probably not be willing to put himself in harm's way. As people, we have to accept whatever decisions the players make without judgement because everyone has different circumstances. I think we also have to listen to the advice of the medical authorities because they have our best interests in mind and ultimately our health is the priority.

DSD: The ICC cricket committee has come up with a set of recommendations on the resumption of cricket. The big change they have suggested is the ban on the use of saliva on the ball, the bowlers aren't going to be too happy.

Dane Vilas: Yes, it will be difficult for the bowlers to generate that polish on the ball. I guess they will have to use more of their own sweat now. The ball manufacturers have also been experimenting with some sort of wax which might help with seam movement. However, you never know, this rule change might just help the bowlers become more skilful. All these measures are being undertaken on a trial basis and we haven't even begun playing cricket yet, so I think it is important to be patient. I have complete faith in the ICC and the cricket authorities that they will make the right decision for all the players and the stakeholders of the sport.

<img alt="Dane Vilas" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="30c77b25-456c-4fb2-bc2b-fec6b6bca5ae" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1P69FU.jpg" />

DSD: But look at it this way,&nbsp;any sport currently, behind closed doors or not till we have a vaccine is bound to be risky. Should the template of the game be changed and is it fair in your opinion.

Dane Vilas: There is a need for the game to be flexible at the moment. Unfortunately, we have no blueprint or handbook on ways to deal with the coronavirus because this is a truly unprecedented crisis. The integrity of the game must be kept intact, but the sport must adapt and move forward, otherwise, we won't be able to play the game we love for a long time.

DSD: There is also a huge ICC tournament on this year down in Australia, now Australia at the moment is pretty much opening up gradually, what do you think, should the T20 world cup go ahead?

Dane Vilas: I am an optimistic person, so I think the tournament can go ahead. We are about five months away from the tournament starting and the situation is largely under control in Australia. The T20 world cup is a huge tournament, one of the flagship events of the ICC and it will be a great boost for the game of cricket. The ICC, though will not put any player at risk. Logistically it will be a challenge for the authorities to fly each team into Australia, but with what's at stake, they will be more than up to the task.

DSD: We are also now seeing sport starting to fight back. The German Bundesliga is back on and that sort of gives some hope to other athletes and leagues around the world. It will help in removing the anxiety of players returning to action, what do you reckon?

Dane Vilas: Absolutely. Sport has the power to inspire people, to bring people together from all walks of life. Sport can also help in uplifting the spirit of the people, which can in a way, help fight the virus. The ball is slowly starting to roll in terms of sporting action returning, the Bundesliga has started and Sri Lanka cricket is ready to host India and Bangladesh in July. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we can return to somewhat of normal life and we'll get to witness a great T20 world cup. 
&nbsp;

South African cricketer and captain of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Dane Vilas, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on lockdown experience, resumption of training for cricketers, social distancing in cricket, T20 World Cup, the financial impact of COVID-19 on the game, and much more.

South African cricketer and captain of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Dane Vilas, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on lockdown experience, resumption of training for cricketers, social distancing in cricket, T20 World Cup, the financial impact of COVID-19 on the game, and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Thank you for your time, Dane. How have you been through this period and how has life in lockdown been? Dane Vilas: It's been strange and difficult at times. Given the situation around the world, I have been keeping well. Looking from the outside, it does seem as if things are getting better. DSD: This virus has actually struck much closer than most imagine, your county chairman David Hodgkiss passed away after contracting the virus at the end of March. Dane Vilas: It was very sad to lose him a couple of months back. He was a key figure at the Lancashire cricket club, a lovely man and someone I had a great relationship with. He was extremely passionate about the game and it is a great loss for the game and our club. Everyone is susceptible to the virus and it is crucial to stay safe in these trying times. DSD: The lockdown has been pretty strict in England, much like in India, so how is your family coping in these times? Dane Vilas: It has been difficult. When the lockdown began, we were only allowed to be outdoors for about 1 or 2 hours in a day, fortunately, there is a huge park in the Vicinity, so at least I was able to take the kids out for a bike ride. The good thing is that people are adhering to social distancing rules. Some of the restrictions have been relaxed lately, so people have been leaving their homes more often. I don't get the opportunity to spend much quality time with my family that often because I'm usually travelling during the county season, so in that sense, this is a welcome change. I have a 5-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter and it is great to be able to spend two whole months with them at a stretch. I'm obviously missing the game of cricket and sport in general. Social interaction has been minimal and that is a strange thing to get used to.so overall it has been a bittersweet time. DSD: Sport is usually the great healer and we have seen the example of Rugby doing that in South Africa but at this time almost every sportsperson around the world is feeling helpless and perhaps frustrated as well. Dane Vilas: Sport is definitely a massive industry and forms a huge part of many people's lives. Some people plan their whole week around a sporting event. Sport is an escape for people, it can help them relax and provide much-needed entertainment. It is hugely important for the mental well-being of the viewers and the players. All of us players want to return to action, so at the moment we're feeling like caged lions. The weather in England over the last couple of months has been perfect for cricket, so it is very frustrating to not play. However, I realise that the world is facing bigger problems at the moment. Various sports like football are trying to work around the problem and hopefully, cricket will resume soon. It is great to be able to entertain people and I can't wait to do that again. DSD: The ECB has taken the lead in allowing for limited training to resume across counties, so how has it been for you? Dane Vilas: Right now, the domestic sides aren't allowed to practice outdoors. They are only allowing the national team to train on a trial basis.the priority for the ECB is to hold the test series against West Indies and Pakistan in the near future, so they will assess how safe it is to train and based on that, they will then create guidelines for the domestic players to return to training. I think it makes sense to open up training with a small group of players, so initially, only the bowlers will be able to practice. DSD: Can social distancing happen on a cricket ground and during a match, it is, after all, a team sport and what is the fun in not having contact when say you score a 50 or a hundred or a bowler takes a catch. Dane Vilas: In any team sport, the camaraderie among the players forms the essence of the game. It is definitely going to be difficult to practice social distancing while playing. However, I believe that players will be willing to make these small compromises for the sport to resume. DSD: How will the life and career of a professional cricketer change now. You for one have a contract with Lancashire but if the season continues to get delayed then revenue gets affected and then there is also the trickle-down effect which ultimately gets down to the players... Dane Vilas: Many county clubs, including Lancashire, have already been financially hit. All us players have taken a pay cut to help the organisation deal with the shutdown. We are fortunate that we still have our jobs, but I think a lot of employees are at the risk of losing theirs because of this crisis. There will definitely a trickle-down effect and we have already started to see the first stages of that phenomenon. I believe the whole landscape of the world will change because of the virus and cricket is no different. All we can do as sportspersons are adapt to the new normal. All of us in some way have adapted to the lockdown and that is the template to move forward. We have found ways to communicate with each other with the help of technology, with video calls and zoom meetings, which is a positive outcome of the crisis. Every adverse situation provides us with a new opportunity and I'm sure we will come out of this crisis stronger. DSD: There are other revenue streams that are going to be affected, a lot was riding on the hundred for one in England but that’s been shelved. Dane Vilas: It is extremely disappointing that the hundred has been cancelled. I know that the organisers had been working on the event for a few years and I'm sure it would have done wonders for the game of cricket in England. There was so much hype during the world cup in England in 2019 and all that momentum was supposed to culminate with the inaugural season of the hundred. Now the authorities have to go back to the drawing board and re-plan everything, which is a lot of hard work. It is hard to really predict how badly we will be hit in terms of our finances, we will only be able to get a clear answer in a couple of years because this crisis will certainly have a long-term effect on the game. As players, these things are not really in our control and we need to find a way to make the most of the situation. DSD: Dane, you play across the world in T20 leagues, huge question marks over the IPL, the PSL got affected in March, will there always be a doubt in the minds of players when they step on a flight. Dane Vilas: Over the last few years, there are many players who earn their basic living through these T20 leagues across the world. These specialised T20 players will suffer huge losses. The whole ecosystem will take a hit, that means it will affect everyone from the top dogs to the lesser players. There are travel restrictions present across the world and we have no idea when they will be lifted. The hardest part is not knowing when this crisis will be over or not knowing when we will be out on the field. There is no goal to work towards right now, so it takes time to come to terms with that reality. As far as the risk of travelling is concerned, it completely depends on the individual. A young cricketer who lives alone might be willing to take that risk because he can isolate himself. On the other hand, a cricketer who lives with his family has young kids and is constantly in contact with his parents, will probably not be willing to put himself in harm's way. As people, we have to accept whatever decisions the players make without judgement because everyone has different circumstances. I think we also have to listen to the advice of the medical authorities because they have our best interests in mind and ultimately our health is the priority. DSD: The ICC cricket committee has come up with a set of recommendations on the resumption of cricket. The big change they have suggested is the ban on the use of saliva on the ball, the bowlers aren't going to be too happy. Dane Vilas: Yes, it will be difficult for the bowlers to generate that polish on the ball. I guess they will have to use more of their own sweat now. The ball manufacturers have also been experimenting with some sort of wax which might help with seam movement. However, you never know, this rule change might just help the bowlers become more skilful. All these measures are being undertaken on a trial basis and we haven't even begun playing cricket yet, so I think it is important to be patient. I have complete faith in the ICC and the cricket authorities that they will make the right decision for all the players and the stakeholders of the sport. DSD: But look at it this way, any sport currently, behind closed doors or not till we have a vaccine is bound to be risky. Should the template of the game be changed and is it fair in your opinion. Dane Vilas: There is a need for the game to be flexible at the moment. Unfortunately, we have no blueprint or handbook on ways to deal with the coronavirus because this is a truly unprecedented crisis. The integrity of the game must be kept intact, but the sport must adapt and move forward, otherwise, we won't be able to play the game we love for a long time. DSD: There is also a huge ICC tournament on this year down in Australia, now Australia at the moment is pretty much opening up gradually, what do you think, should the T20 world cup go ahead? Dane Vilas: I am an optimistic person, so I think the tournament can go ahead. We are about five months away from the tournament starting and the situation is largely under control in Australia. The T20 world cup is a huge tournament, one of the flagship events of the ICC and it will be a great boost for the game of cricket. The ICC, though will not put any player at risk. Logistically it will be a challenge for the authorities to fly each team into Australia, but with what's at stake, they will be more than up to the task. DSD: We are also now seeing sport starting to fight back. The German Bundesliga is back on and that sort of gives some hope to other athletes and leagues around the world. It will help in removing the anxiety of players returning to action, what do you reckon? Dane Vilas: Absolutely. Sport has the power to inspire people, to bring people together from all walks of life. Sport can also help in uplifting the spirit of the people, which can in a way, help fight the virus. The ball is slowly starting to roll in terms of sporting action returning, the Bundesliga has started and Sri Lanka cricket is ready to host India and Bangladesh in July. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we can return to somewhat of normal life and we'll get to witness a great T20 world cup.

Dane Vilas: Saliva ban may force bowlers to become more skillful

Olympic-medallist and one of the greatest sporting icons of India, Vijender Singh, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown, Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield easing back to full fitness, India's boxing contingent for Tokyo Olympics, future of contact sports, and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Vijender, you are a man of action so how frustrated has this lockdown left you?

Vijender Singh: I think it is important to stay at home while the virus is out there. By staying home, we are saving lives. This will be a tough battle and all of us have to play our part. So I'm home and spending quality time with my family.

DSD: The one thing that I have always admired about you is your street-smartness inside the boxing ring and it has helped you this time. You decided to move from your place in Gurgaon to your in-laws at the last moment...

Vijender Singh: Yes, that's true. I'm actually thinking about going to my village. Sometimes I feel a bit bored here and if the government restrictions are eased, then I will go to my village with the family and start working there. That will give me the opportunity to teach my son activities like gardening. The whole world is suffering in this crisis and the sporting calendar has been wrecked. Everyone is in the same boat, I just hope we can overcome this crisis together.

DSD: Fitness is everything in boxing so how have you been managing the last two months?

Vijender Singh: I'm not doing hardcore training, but still doing basic exercises like skipping drills and push-ups to maintain my fitness levels. I try to have a session at least once a day in the evening. Fortunately, I have some space here and I am using it to work out, so I can say that I am in shape.

DSD: At-least you can now head back to a boxing ring with the lockdown restrictions being eased obviously with certain safety precautions.

Vijender Singh: yes, it certainly is good news that athletes can return to their training. Albeit while following the government's strict guidelines. With the Olympics being 14 months away, it is important for the country's sportspersons to get back in the groove. However, I believe the athletes will still have a lot of apprehensions about competing at major events during the pandemic, even while training they will be extremely cautious.

DSD: How big a relief will that be for India's sportspersons.most of them have been stuck at home without any training for the last 2 months and you know that in high-intensity sports even a week without training needs a lot of catching up to do.

Vijender Singh: I think the athletes should only start individual training, they should travel to the facility or stadium, finish their session and come back home. We cannot start training in groups as I think it will increase the risk of infection. No crowds should be allowed in any facility and social distancing must still be maintained.

DSD: You won medals at the highest level for India be it at the Olympics, world championship, Asian games and commonwealth games. What advice do you have for those whose Olympic dream has been dashed by a year? So what was initially a 4-year journey to the Olympics is now a 5-year journey.

Vijender Singh: It is a huge mental challenge for all sportspersons, but there is no option. They have to keep their wits about them and stay focussed. I think it is also important to stay fit, which in itself is preparation for the Olympics next year. I would advise all the athletes not to leave their immediate premises and follow the guidelines. We are fighting an unprecedented pandemic and our health has to be the priority. We have to ensure that the virus does not reach the levels it has in countries like the USA, UK and Italy, where the damage has been absolutely devastating.

<img alt="VIJENDER: TOKYO BOUND BOXERS HAVE LOST MOMENTUM, WILL HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9a8e02f0-361c-48f4-8858-e3f0af2ca94f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del222580.jpg" />

DSD: Tell us why it is extremely difficult for the boxers who have qualified for the Olympics. It's 14 more months of pushing your body to the limit isn't it every single day. I have seen you train for the Olympics and after every session, all of you were flat on your beds sleeping. It is extremely brutal.

Vijender Singh: There is extra effort, which also means extra pressure on the athletes. When you train for the Olympics, there is an internal battle as well. It definitely takes a toll. Most of the athletes must have been approaching the final stages of their preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in march this year, but now they have to start from scratch. I think it is a huge setback for athletes because all the momentum has been lost. I hope the athletes can adapt and win medals for the country at next year's Olympics.

DSD: You started India's boxing story at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. Now already 9 boxers qualified for the Olympics which is the most and we still have one more shot. We had a lull in 2016 but how do you see this crop of boxers...

Vijender Singh: I must say their recent performances have been excellent. Nine Indian boxers have qualified for the Olympics, making it the country's largest contingent ever for the event. That just shows how far Indian boxing has come, I am confident that the contingent will be able to make the country proud. Amit Panghal is a world-class boxer, he is world No&nbsp;1 right now and also the reigning Asian Games gold medalist, so there is no reason why he cannot do well at the Olympics.

DSD: Two of them though still around from your time, Vikas Krishan and Mary Kom. Just looking at them shows what that Olympic passion is all about. Twice Vikas has come close and mary is fighting age...

Vijender Singh: It is all the more difficult for mary because she has four kids now. It is a very hard balancing act but she is able to somehow manage. She is an inspiration to all Indians, including me. Her determination is exemplary and she instils belief in all of us. Vikas is a very experienced boxer, he has been to two Olympics and that will work in his favour at next year's games. &nbsp;

<img alt="VIJENDER: TOKYO BOUND BOXERS HAVE LOST MOMENTUM, WILL HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4cd0eca8-05db-4854-875e-5cda5f7ecbd4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV846765.jpg" />

DSD: Is it going to be easy to train especially in contact sports. The athletes in most non-contact sports can get back to their lives but if you have seen say the boxing s.o.p for resumption then how do you train without sparring.

Vijender Singh: Frankly speaking, I have no idea. The coaches might have a plan in mind, but you can only train with a punching bag for so many days. At the end of the day, you need a sparring partner and I have no idea when boxers will be able to train in pairs. The only thing we can do is hope that these restrictions are relaxed soon.

DSD: Some of the other rules, for example, are also bizarre, no physiotherapy or massages…these are extremely crucial aspects for elite performance.

Vijender Singh: Injuries are extremely common in boxing. It's part of the sport, I get cuts, bruises and scars after my bouts and one need physio or a trainer to recover. Unfortunately, right now strict guidelines do need to be followed and we must adhere to them.

DSD: I think there has to come a time when you have to let go of this fear, of course, while taking the necessary precautions. Organising a training camp with minimal number of individuals is a real possibility.

Vijender Singh: When you are training for an event like the Olympics, athletes also need to be able to cool off and let their hair down. It is essential for their mental well-being because there is so much pressure on them. This will not be possible in a quarantine camp as they will be stuck in a sort of containment zone. From time to time, athletes need to be able to relax, go out and interact with other people. If the athletes do nothing but train, then it will invite more pressure on them.

<img alt="VIJENDER: TOKYO BOUND BOXERS HAVE LOST MOMENTUM, WILL HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="71334705-207b-47f3-9692-ab8af47d24b1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_D993O_0.jpg" />

DSD: For you Vijender, where does this pandemic leave your professional boxing career. Its been a while since you last fought and chances of travelling abroad look bleak at the moment.

Vijender Singh: I have made a kind of road-map for the future with my trainers. I am going to start isolated training sessions soon. Earlier I was supposed to train in the US, but obviously that is not possible right now. The eventual plan is to be able to hold bouts in India, which can be shown live to viewers on the internet or television. Although this is just a tentative plan, nothing is set in stone.

DSD: I hope you have been following what is going on in the world of boxing. Two all-time greats Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield been showing off their skills .what do you make of it.

Vijender Singh: it is absolutely incredible that they are thinking of a coming back to the ring at this age. I actually met Evander Holyfield a while back in Los Angeles and I must say he looked extremely fit. The key is to be able to stay fit at that age. If the Tyson vs Holyfield match does go ahead, it will be the biggest bout of the century.

DSD: Both want to fight again, there is talk of an exhibition fight considering the history. But at their age isn't this is a huge risk.

Vijender Singh: No, I don't think so. Both of them are at the same age and if they feel they can get back into the ring, then they should be fine. Boxing is all about heart. I don't think it will be a great danger, both of them are legends of the game and they certainly know how to fight. Boxing fans around the world will love to see them back in action.

<img alt="VIJENDER: TOKYO BOUND BOXERS HAVE LOST MOMENTUM, WILL HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1199b4e9-4b42-4d9a-bd5c-316bcb03dced" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_R99MU.jpg" />

DSD: Who has impressed you more? I must say I was feeling for Mike Tyson's trainer in the video he posted, Tyson was really going at it.

Vijender Singh: Yes, Tyson is looking menacing, but Holyfield is an animal. I have been a fan of Holyfield for a long time and my money is on him if a fight happens.

DSD: What is that one thing you are most looking forward to doing once the lockdown ends?

Vijender Singh: I just to want to take a long holiday and relax. I'm thinking about going to goa, maybe that will be the perfect way to enter life in the post-COVID era. 
&nbsp;

Olympic-medallist and one of the greatest sporting icons of India, Vijender Singh, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown, Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield easing back to full fitness, India's boxing contingent for Tokyo Olympics, future of contact sports, and much more.

Olympic-medallist and one of the greatest sporting icons of India, Vijender Singh, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown, Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield easing back to full fitness, India's boxing contingent for Tokyo Olympics, future of contact sports, and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Vijender, you are a man of action so how frustrated has this lockdown left you? Vijender Singh: I think it is important to stay at home while the virus is out there. By staying home, we are saving lives. This will be a tough battle and all of us have to play our part. So I'm home and spending quality time with my family. DSD: The one thing that I have always admired about you is your street-smartness inside the boxing ring and it has helped you this time. You decided to move from your place in Gurgaon to your in-laws at the last moment... Vijender Singh: Yes, that's true. I'm actually thinking about going to my village. Sometimes I feel a bit bored here and if the government restrictions are eased, then I will go to my village with the family and start working there. That will give me the opportunity to teach my son activities like gardening. The whole world is suffering in this crisis and the sporting calendar has been wrecked. Everyone is in the same boat, I just hope we can overcome this crisis together. DSD: Fitness is everything in boxing so how have you been managing the last two months? Vijender Singh: I'm not doing hardcore training, but still doing basic exercises like skipping drills and push-ups to maintain my fitness levels. I try to have a session at least once a day in the evening. Fortunately, I have some space here and I am using it to work out, so I can say that I am in shape. DSD: At-least you can now head back to a boxing ring with the lockdown restrictions being eased obviously with certain safety precautions. Vijender Singh: yes, it certainly is good news that athletes can return to their training. Albeit while following the government's strict guidelines. With the Olympics being 14 months away, it is important for the country's sportspersons to get back in the groove. However, I believe the athletes will still have a lot of apprehensions about competing at major events during the pandemic, even while training they will be extremely cautious. DSD: How big a relief will that be for India's sportspersons.most of them have been stuck at home without any training for the last 2 months and you know that in high-intensity sports even a week without training needs a lot of catching up to do. Vijender Singh: I think the athletes should only start individual training, they should travel to the facility or stadium, finish their session and come back home. We cannot start training in groups as I think it will increase the risk of infection. No crowds should be allowed in any facility and social distancing must still be maintained. DSD: You won medals at the highest level for India be it at the Olympics, world championship, Asian games and commonwealth games. What advice do you have for those whose Olympic dream has been dashed by a year? So what was initially a 4-year journey to the Olympics is now a 5-year journey. Vijender Singh: It is a huge mental challenge for all sportspersons, but there is no option. They have to keep their wits about them and stay focussed. I think it is also important to stay fit, which in itself is preparation for the Olympics next year. I would advise all the athletes not to leave their immediate premises and follow the guidelines. We are fighting an unprecedented pandemic and our health has to be the priority. We have to ensure that the virus does not reach the levels it has in countries like the USA, UK and Italy, where the damage has been absolutely devastating. DSD: Tell us why it is extremely difficult for the boxers who have qualified for the Olympics. It's 14 more months of pushing your body to the limit isn't it every single day. I have seen you train for the Olympics and after every session, all of you were flat on your beds sleeping. It is extremely brutal. Vijender Singh: There is extra effort, which also means extra pressure on the athletes. When you train for the Olympics, there is an internal battle as well. It definitely takes a toll. Most of the athletes must have been approaching the final stages of their preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in march this year, but now they have to start from scratch. I think it is a huge setback for athletes because all the momentum has been lost. I hope the athletes can adapt and win medals for the country at next year's Olympics. DSD: You started India's boxing story at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. Now already 9 boxers qualified for the Olympics which is the most and we still have one more shot. We had a lull in 2016 but how do you see this crop of boxers... Vijender Singh: I must say their recent performances have been excellent. Nine Indian boxers have qualified for the Olympics, making it the country's largest contingent ever for the event. That just shows how far Indian boxing has come, I am confident that the contingent will be able to make the country proud. Amit Panghal is a world-class boxer, he is world No 1 right now and also the reigning Asian Games gold medalist, so there is no reason why he cannot do well at the Olympics. DSD: Two of them though still around from your time, Vikas Krishan and Mary Kom. Just looking at them shows what that Olympic passion is all about. Twice Vikas has come close and mary is fighting age... Vijender Singh: It is all the more difficult for mary because she has four kids now. It is a very hard balancing act but she is able to somehow manage. She is an inspiration to all Indians, including me. Her determination is exemplary and she instils belief in all of us. Vikas is a very experienced boxer, he has been to two Olympics and that will work in his favour at next year's games. DSD: Is it going to be easy to train especially in contact sports. The athletes in most non-contact sports can get back to their lives but if you have seen say the boxing s.o.p for resumption then how do you train without sparring. Vijender Singh: Frankly speaking, I have no idea. The coaches might have a plan in mind, but you can only train with a punching bag for so many days. At the end of the day, you need a sparring partner and I have no idea when boxers will be able to train in pairs. The only thing we can do is hope that these restrictions are relaxed soon. DSD: Some of the other rules, for example, are also bizarre, no physiotherapy or massages…these are extremely crucial aspects for elite performance. Vijender Singh: Injuries are extremely common in boxing. It's part of the sport, I get cuts, bruises and scars after my bouts and one need physio or a trainer to recover. Unfortunately, right now strict guidelines do need to be followed and we must adhere to them. DSD: I think there has to come a time when you have to let go of this fear, of course, while taking the necessary precautions. Organising a training camp with minimal number of individuals is a real possibility. Vijender Singh: When you are training for an event like the Olympics, athletes also need to be able to cool off and let their hair down. It is essential for their mental well-being because there is so much pressure on them. This will not be possible in a quarantine camp as they will be stuck in a sort of containment zone. From time to time, athletes need to be able to relax, go out and interact with other people. If the athletes do nothing but train, then it will invite more pressure on them. DSD: For you Vijender, where does this pandemic leave your professional boxing career. Its been a while since you last fought and chances of travelling abroad look bleak at the moment. Vijender Singh: I have made a kind of road-map for the future with my trainers. I am going to start isolated training sessions soon. Earlier I was supposed to train in the US, but obviously that is not possible right now. The eventual plan is to be able to hold bouts in India, which can be shown live to viewers on the internet or television. Although this is just a tentative plan, nothing is set in stone. DSD: I hope you have been following what is going on in the world of boxing. Two all-time greats Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield been showing off their skills .what do you make of it. Vijender Singh: it is absolutely incredible that they are thinking of a coming back to the ring at this age. I actually met Evander Holyfield a while back in Los Angeles and I must say he looked extremely fit. The key is to be able to stay fit at that age. If the Tyson vs Holyfield match does go ahead, it will be the biggest bout of the century. DSD: Both want to fight again, there is talk of an exhibition fight considering the history. But at their age isn't this is a huge risk. Vijender Singh: No, I don't think so. Both of them are at the same age and if they feel they can get back into the ring, then they should be fine. Boxing is all about heart. I don't think it will be a great danger, both of them are legends of the game and they certainly know how to fight. Boxing fans around the world will love to see them back in action. DSD: Who has impressed you more? I must say I was feeling for Mike Tyson's trainer in the video he posted, Tyson was really going at it. Vijender Singh: Yes, Tyson is looking menacing, but Holyfield is an animal. I have been a fan of Holyfield for a long time and my money is on him if a fight happens. DSD: What is that one thing you are most looking forward to doing once the lockdown ends? Vijender Singh: I just to want to take a long holiday and relax. I'm thinking about going to goa, maybe that will be the perfect way to enter life in the post-COVID era.

Vijender: Tokyo-bound boxers have lost momentum, will have to start from scratch again

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

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

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

Rahi: Will understand if the Olympics are not held

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

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

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

Seb Coe: Athletics will look very different in 2020

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

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

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

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

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

Ghosal: Social distancing impossible during a squash match

Recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Olympic medallist, Gagan Narang in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a lot of things ranging from the life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, financial struggles of sporting organisations, impact of lack of live action on young shooters, his future goals and more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: This is a forced break Gagan but when was the last time you spent so much time at home...

Gagan Narang: It has actually been a blessing in disguise. After such a long time, I have been able to spend time at home with my parents and eat home-cooked food. For the last 23 years, I have been travelling all over the world because of shooting, and I have never been home for so long. So it has been a refreshing change and I have been able to recharge my batteries.

DSD: And I hear from reliable sources that you have been spending some time in the kitchen cooking up a feast..that's the tricks of the trade you pick up when you travel around the world for sport and mostly stay alone...

Gagan Narang: Yes, I try to help out as much as I can in the household. On international trips, one gets bored of the hotel food after a while. So I have made my own meals on tours in the past, you are forced to adapt to situations and that is the need of the hour. I have found myself craving home-cooked food while being on tours, so it's really great to be able to eat that home-food for a sustained period of time.

DSD: How have you been, you stay with elderly parents and you have been exercising extreme caution even when it comes to picking up essentials.

Gagan Narang: I have been going out for some relief work recently, but whenever I return I make sure I quarantine myself for a few days as a precaution. It can sometimes be a challenge to take care of my elderly parents, but I am grateful that I could spend so much time with them. It has been a very humbling experience for me. They are not used to having me around the house for such a long period of time, so one day my father absent-mindedly switched off the lights in my room while I was still in it. It is a strange situation for my parents and me but one that I am grateful for.

<img alt="Exclusive | Gagang Narang in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7ed1a154-fc6f-4228-85a9-ef20f31112c2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del6142587.jpg" />

DSD: For&nbsp;a lot of people Gagan this process of self-isolation has been quite unnerving as they are just not used to being indoors and left to themselves. But for people like you and other members of the Indian shooting team, this inst very odd as shooters usually prefer solitude &nbsp;...

Gagan Narang:&nbsp;Most events in our sport, including my event- the 10-metre air rifle- are played indoors. It is possible to train at home even when the shooting ranges are closed. In fact, I was just cleaning my gun after a long time just before this interview.

DSD: The problems for you though are not personal but more professional.you have quite a lot of academies across India and keeping them going must be extremely problematic.

Gagan Narang: Yes, it has been a tough situation because we are a&nbsp;not-for-profit academy. Our academies aim to widen the base of the sport at the grassroots level. So far we have managed somehow, we dug into our reserves to pay the salaries of the employees. We have adhered to all the rules of the government by shutting all our academies and sent all our staff back home. &nbsp;Measures are being taken to ensure that the families of the academy coaches and staff are taken care of. We have requested the owners of the shooting ranges to defer the rent payment and we will do all that we can to sustain the academies.

DSD: The government has these 'Khelo India' academies all over India, most of them are private academies that are affiliated to the Sports Ministry. Should the ministry be bailing those academies out which are struggling...

Gagan Narang: I think we have to understand that the world is going through a real crisis at the moment and sport is not one of the priorities. I think it will take some time for sport to return. All sports will definitely take a big hit. When the lockdown ends, the government should look at ways in which they can financially help these academies, which are contributing to our sporting ecosystem.

DSD: Let us look at your sport. As it stands everything is shut. You are a 4-time Olympian. Barring a few, the provisional Indian Olympic team has 11 first-timers. How do you keep them on track?

Gagan Narang: I think the training schedule of these shooters was very well planned by their coaches. There is a lot of knowledge and know-how in the Indian shooting structure now, which wasn't the case a few years back. I think their mentors will guide them well and help them figure out ways to keep themselves busy. One of the defining qualities of an athlete is that he or she is always positive, no matter what the situation. You have to be able to learn from the ups and downs in your life. Athletes are bound to go through hardships in their careers and it is only when athletes stay positive that they are able to win.

DSD: Your generation was different because the natural process and evolution of Indian shooting toughened you up, but this younger generation has only seen success and they have had access to the best facilities, how do we ensure that they stay mentally focussed and keep their skills sharp?

Gagan Narang: It is possible to do many drills at home that can keep you in the game. There is obviously no substitute to&nbsp;shooting at ranges, but visualisation and dry practice are some of the things that can help you keep in touch with your skills. It is impossible to be at your absolute best without training, but there is a lot of work that can be done on other aspects of your game which do not require access to shooting ranges. The younger generation has a huge advantage because they have no pressure on them, there is no baggage. They don't know fear or stress, they have achieved some great results in the last few years and they want to build on that. So they are looking forward rather than looking over their shoulders. This generation's mentality is different; participation is not enough for them nor is a bronze medal at the Olympics. They want to reach a level where they can win multiple gold medals for their country.

A few years ago, we were just happy to participate in the Olympics, but that is certainly not the case now. I believe that this break will not greatly affect the performance of the young Indian shooters and they will be competing for medal at the 2021 Olympics.

DSD: What about those Gagan who are limited by their events and can't train. The likes of Sanjeev Rajput and young Aishwary&nbsp;Tomar in the 50m events, the skeet boys Angad Bajwa and Mairaj Khan..they need proper outdoor functional ranges and that isn't happening.

Gagan Narang: Yes, it is a cause for concern. The shotgun events are the worst hit because it is impossible to train indoors. In the rifle events, a simulator can be used which is very similar to the real thing. I hope that the shotgun shooters get back to the range as soon as possible.

<img alt="Exclusive | Gagang Narang in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bd64efb5-bd16-4833-8af4-1e2ff926fba8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1235240.jpg" />

DSD: There are feasibility studies right now as to how to open up training.&nbsp;There are talks over quarantine camps. But at the moment the shooters are scattered all over the country and travel perhaps may not be safe. What would you suggest?

Gagan Narang: I believe that getting all the Indian shooters together in one camp would be a logistical challenge. It would also be a health and safety danger in the current crisis. I would suggest that the shooters continue training with their personal trainers and continue to be in a safe environment. They have been isolated thus far and I don't think any other risks should be taken. Possibilities could be explored of giving them access to shooting ranges close to their respective houses. That could be an ideal approach, but I believe that sporting administrators are more than capable of making these decisions on their own.

DSD: A few sportspersons I have spoken to over the course of this series suggest that mentally you should write off these months and think of this as the off-season. Easier said than done isn't it as there is bound to be anxiety about form, about retaining the Olympic quota...

Gagan Narang: As you know Digvijay, we have no real off-season in shooting, so I believe it is a welcome break for these shooters. From that perspective, I'm sure all the shooters have found ways to occupy themselves. It is natural for shooters to be concerned about the shooting calendar since there is no clarity on the situation, but that is out of their control. I would advise them to keep working on certain aspects of their game and not get stressed about things that are out of their control.

DSD: Manavjit Sandhu, one of your fellow shooting Khel Ratna awardees, says he is concerned that with the international calendar all but over for the year there is going to be a lack of competition. Now thankfully we have fantastic bench strength in rifle and pistol and your parent body the NRAI perhaps needs to schedule a robust domestic calendar to keep everyone ready.

Gagan Narang: I think a full-fledged domestic competition would be very difficult to organise because of the logistical challenges. But tournaments for about 20 shooters, who are in contention to travel to the Olympics can be arranged to keep them sharp. But even that tournament would only be possible when the lockdown restrictions are eased. There is so much uncertainty surrounding everything at the moment, even when we return to our normal lives, it will be a 'new normal'. We do now know to what extent travel will open up, so holding domestic competitions could also be a challenge. I would say the best approach would be for the shooters to continue training in a safe and secure environment and maintain a positive attitude.

<img alt="Exclusive | Gagang Narang in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0cead2b-db97-47de-8696-bc1bce0e2806" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del500888.jpg" />

DSD: Also, we have a very young bunch of shooters sitting on Olympic quotas.most of them have never known a break like this in their careers. ou are also a mentor and Elavenil Valarivan is air rifle world number one and in the mix for an Olympic berth. What is it you are telling her?

Gagan Narang: We must realise that qualifying for the Olympics is just one step in the process. But we must realise that our approach to the Olympics must not change just because of the scale of the event. Earlier, shooters used to make drastic changes to their training and schedules after qualifying for the Olympics. But this generation doesn't need to do that since they already have all facilities available to them even before qualifying for the Olympics. A shooter should approach the Olympics like any other event and give it their absolute best. A normal routine should be followed where time is also given to the family and that is what Elavenil is doing at the moment. She is taking care of her parents and making good use of this opportunity to spend quality time at home. She is working on some of her weaknesses and niggles, which will definitely help her in the long run. She is regular in her Scatt training and I keep a check on her scores. We get in touch through zoom calls once in a few days and she is keeping a positive mindset.

DSD: Is this the period Gagan where the changes to equipment etc can happen. A lot&nbsp;of people hold off tinkering till the Olympics but this gives you opportunity doesn’t it?

Gagan Narang: In the case of Elavenil, it wouldn't be ideal to change her equipment at the moment. We can maybe look at that when we meet so that there is better communication between the two of us. Generally, we do need new equipment from time to time, and we don't often get the time to get used to it because of the shooting calendar. We get very little time to adapt to the new technologies, so it is a challenge to be able to manage that in an appropriate manner.

DSD: With the Olympics postponed Gagan, all existing preparations have been binned. Do you agree with me when I say this will be a journey into the unknown due to the uncertainty, we may have competitions next year, we may not have. &nbsp;This could be a bit like that final qualifying shootout in Formula 1 where there is a sprint to the finish.

Gagan Narang: I wouldn't say that the current crisis will diminish the importance of the Olympic Games because ultimately it comes once in four years. The pressure will always be there to perform at the Olympics because it is simply the pinnacle of&nbsp;sport. Currently, I would advise the shooters to work on their short-term goals, but completely ignore the Olympics which is scheduled for next year.

DSD: Given the kind of experience you have, if there is no shooting calendar ready in January or February next year, how can we adapt, what should be the new approach for the sport?

Gagan Narang: I'm sure that situation will not arise. We are going to have shooting by January or February 2021. A lot of ranges in Europe have already opened and shooters have started training in staggered groups. When it comes to the approach, a lot of shooters have already hit the reset button on their clocks and preparing for events next year. Ideally, all the events that have been cancelled in 2020, should be held in the corresponding months in 2021 so that a shooter's plan is not affected.

DSD: For you personally, how has his lockdown refreshed you…you have won the full set of medals in your sport…the Olympics, World Championship, World Cup final, World Cup, Asiad and CWG…ready for another crack?

Gagan Narang: I actually was taking a break from the sport before the coronavirus crisis, so that I could spend some time with my parents. I have considered getting back to the sport, but I do not want to participate to make up the numbers. My shooting numbers are not so bad and I feel I can still compete at the highest level, but it is too early to make a decision on that. Right now, my priorities in life are different, so I'm concentrating on those things. But I have not ruled anything out, hopefully, we can overcome this crisis and then I will make a concrete decision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team, Sjoerd Marijne, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from&nbsp;women team's&nbsp;initiative to raise funds for the needy amid COVID-19 pandemic, life in lockdown, sports post-coronavirus, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, idea of quarantine camps for Olympic hopefuls and much more...

Digvijay Singh Deo: Sjoerd, good to have you back on WION, how have you been all through this phase?

Sjoerd Marijne: We have been in quarantine for over 9 weeks now, so it has been a very challenging period for our team and the entire support staff, but we are trying to stay positive.

DSD: Before I get into that, I must from all of us here at WION applaud you and the team for what you all have been doing through this period of great suffering. Close to 19 lakhs raised for charity.so how did this idea come up and who were the players driving this?

Sjoerd Marijne: Thank you very much for that. I am very proud of the players for raising almost rupees 20 lakhs in these times of crisis. I think it is important for those in a privileged position to contribute to society. We have to keep a positive mindset, do what is possible rather than just think about the impossible.

Initially, the players wanted to help out but they were not familiar with the concept of fundraising. So I, along with my support staff explained the idea to them and all of them were on board. Sushila Chanu takes the lead and comes up with fitness challenges, we then post videos on our social media pages of the challenges and encourage people to undertake the task and donate to the fundraiser. The response has been truly excellent and when we see the photos of how we are positively influencing people's lives, it makes all the effort and work worth it. The whole team is enjoying this task and it is a kind of team-bonding exercise as well. We realise that we are in a position of privilege, that we do not have to struggle for essentials. Other people are not as fortunate, so we must acknowledge the reality and do what we can in this crisis.

DSD: You still have a short distance to go to accomplish the goal of 20 lakhs, Sjoerd so why don’t you use this platform to ask viewers to chip in as well. It's just a small amount but will go a long way in helping out those in need...

Sjoerd Marijne: I would like to appeal to everyone to support the noble initiative of the women's team &nbsp;and raise money for those who are struggling during the coronavirus crisis.

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On behalf of our entire team I thank you all for supporting us in the campaign to help needy people during Covid-19. I am happy to share that in just a week we have raised ₹15 Lakhs 
 
1/2 <a href="https://t.co/TpVJls1NJZ">pic.twitter.com/TpVJls1NJZ</a>
— Rani Rampal (@imranirampal) <a href="https://twitter.com/imranirampal/status/1253371935443976195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

DSD: Hopefully we can close out the goal today itself. So Sjoerd personally how has this been for you. How is your family doing back in holland?

Sjoerd Marijne: Yes it is challenging, I try to video call my family at least 3-4 times a day. My wife is alone, so it is a tough situation for her and she has to keep herself protected. Earlier I used to be home for about one week every month, but now since the international borders are shut I haven't been back for over two months. The most important thing for everyone, including my family, is &nbsp;to take care of their health. Fortunately, I am able to speak to my family on a daily basis and I am sure we will get through this.

<img alt="Exclusive | Sjoerd Marijne in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6580786c-7709-4135-abd9-5e04c9295c00" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hokcte.jpg" />

DSD: You in fact had tickets to go back in March but you didn’t, international travel does not look very promising at least for the next two-three months, are you feeling rather upset that you can't be with the family right now or you made the right call by staying here?

Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, I think I made the correct decision by staying in India. It would have been unfair on my part as coach of the national team to be away from the squad in a time like this. We are also a family here and we have to stick together.

DSD: Obviously you must be tracking what is going on in sport back home as well, the Eredivisie was cancelled and no winner this year. I find it extremely brilliant that all teams were on board with this and both Ajax and Alkmaar didn’t object despite being clear leaders...

Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, the Eredivisie campaign has been called off, but a lot of discussions are going on at the moment, since not everyone is happy with the way in which the decision was made. But since I am not aware of the details of the state of affairs in the Netherlands, it would be unfair on my part to comment on such matters.

DSD: How do you look at sport in general Sjoerd post this pandemic…there is talk of playing behind closed doors to finish European football seasons because there is a lot of money at stake, where do you stand on that, do you think sport can resume at this time?

Sjoerd Marijne: The most important thing at the moment to follow the guidelines of the government. They have to guide us during this period. Of course , we would love to be back on the field competing again, but that can only happen when the situation improves and when the government deems it safe enough. We can only speculate on matters, I don't think we will see any international action this year. The world is facing much bigger issues at this point in time and health has to be the top priority.

DSD: We have a rather peculiar situation here, people are stuck at home and want to see the sport. The only way to do that is behind closed doors but since you understand team sport better than us you know that there are so many people who are needed for a game to go ahead and you are putting all of them at risk…

Sjoerd Marijne: The main question is, how much risk are you willing to take in order to see sports resume? I cannot answer these questions, they are for the government and sporting authorities to address. I understand that it is frustrating for fans around the world to not watch any action, but fighting the pandemic is more important than seeing sport return. We all have to have a lot of patience in these uncertain times. There are a lot of 'what if' questions we have, but none of them has any answers. We cannot even plan for the Olympics yet next year because we don't know when international matches will resume. So, all we can do is wait for government approval and let the authorities decide when action will return. 
There are much more serious problems the world is dealing with, one of my friend's mother passed away recently and no one could even attend the funeral because of the coronavirus restrictions. So, we have to look at things in perspective when we talk about sport.

<img alt="Exclusive | Sjoerd Marijne in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9373915c-95be-4911-b1b5-81ef0d302a17" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hockey.jpg" />

&nbsp;

DSD: Obviously sport as we know it will have to readjust and find 'new normals', what will be the changes in hockey. Obviously it is a team sport and all of you are in close proximity to each other both on the training pitch as well during matches.

Sjoerd Marijne: As I said before, we do not know what the situation will be in the next few months. Maybe there is a vaccine that is available this year, then there might not be many changes to the way we play the sport. It is too early to say for sure whether our sport will change or not once it resumes because we have no idea when it will.

DSD: I was speaking to Siegfried Aikman earlier this week and he was of the opinion that all coaches are going to have a lot of worries with the Olympics postponed. He felt team dynamics would take a hit with some players having originally planned to retire after the 2020 games. For you with the Indian team what is the road ahead?

Sjoerd Marijne: I was obviously disappointed that the Olympics were postponed, but I got over it quickly and started thinking of ways to prepare for the 2021 &nbsp;games. We have a very young squad and this one more year of preparation might prove to be a positive for us.

Janneke Schopman, our analytical coach, is a great addition to our team and her inputs will certainly make us stronger, fortunately, we don't have players who are thinking about retirement over the next couple of years. Obviously the postponement means that we have to go back to square one, in terms of our preparation. But there are ways to deal with these circumstances by being mentally strong and not stressing about things that are beyond our control. I see a lot of potential growth for this team over the next year and hopefully, we will be able to play matches soon.

DSD: The team was starting to peak and perhaps 12 more months could be perfect for you and make India proper medal contenders?

Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, it can work in our favour but we have to wait. Only practice will not help , we will need to play competitive matches for the team to grow. That is why it is important to be patient and wait for the situation to get better. &nbsp;The girls have been training individually for the last nine weeks now and they need a well-deserved break. So, as soon as the lockdown ends, they will be free to return to their families.

DSD: As a coach how do you now prepare for the Olympics 15 months away without knowing when you will be allowed to train normally or even travel to play matches, so do you think it is a journey into the unknown for you?

Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, it is a real challenge. But we have to adapt and make the best of what we have. I can still control the daily sessions have with my team, we work on strength and conditioning and also analyse other teams. These are the things that I am keeping myself and the team busy with. Everything else is out of my control so I do not waste my time in dwelling on those issues. I have accepted the prevailing situation and try to stay positive. There are much more important things at stake right now and we as a team realise that. A lot of the girls in our team come from poor backgrounds and they understand how difficult it is for families to make ends meet.

<img alt="Exclusive | Sjoerd Marijne in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f23823e-cd89-443d-91bd-a51ac6a7d751" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/hock.jpg" />

&nbsp;

DSD: The IOA wants all Olympic hopefuls and those qualified to be put into quarantine camps where training can continue. Now you have been in one such camp for more than a month where no outsiders are allowed. How helpful will this be and what advantage will it give to India's sportspersons as not all countries have such large campuses to get their players together?

Sjoerd Marijne: We have to follow the guidelines of the government. It would be extremely helpful to our team if we can play hockey, but we will only do it once the approval comes from the government. We have been in quarantine for the last nine weeks, and since the national lockdown was introduced, no one has been allowed to enter the SAI campus in Bengaluru, nor has anyone from inside the campus been allowed to go out. So, fortunately, we are safe here. In some other countries as well, like Germany and the Netherlands, teams have started training. So I'm not sure if India will get a head-start on other teams in terms of preparation. Other countries do not have huge centres as we do in India, but it is still possible for them to train. I think once the situation gets better in India, the government can introduce the quarantine-like camps for other sports as well.

DSD: I&nbsp;always like to end on an optimistic note, so what is the most important lesson that you have learnt from this crisis?

Sjoerd Marijne: I think I have learned to deal with things on a daily basis. I keep making short term goals for myself to make it easier to overcome the problem. I do not keep dwelling on the fact that I am away from my family, because it will only take away the positivity out of me and that will have an adverse effect on me and the women's team.

The chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team, Sjoerd Marijne, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from women team's initiative to raise funds for the needy amid COVID-19 pandemic, life in lockdown, sports post-coronavirus, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, idea of quarantine camps for Olympic hopefuls and much more.

The chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team, Sjoerd Marijne, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about a lot of things ranging from women team's initiative to raise funds for the needy amid COVID-19 pandemic, life in lockdown, sports post-coronavirus, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, idea of quarantine camps for Olympic hopefuls and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Sjoerd, good to have you back on WION, how have you been all through this phase? Sjoerd Marijne: We have been in quarantine for over 9 weeks now, so it has been a very challenging period for our team and the entire support staff, but we are trying to stay positive. DSD: Before I get into that, I must from all of us here at WION applaud you and the team for what you all have been doing through this period of great suffering. Close to 19 lakhs raised for charity.so how did this idea come up and who were the players driving this? Sjoerd Marijne: Thank you very much for that. I am very proud of the players for raising almost rupees 20 lakhs in these times of crisis. I think it is important for those in a privileged position to contribute to society. We have to keep a positive mindset, do what is possible rather than just think about the impossible. Initially, the players wanted to help out but they were not familiar with the concept of fundraising. So I, along with my support staff explained the idea to them and all of them were on board. Sushila Chanu takes the lead and comes up with fitness challenges, we then post videos on our social media pages of the challenges and encourage people to undertake the task and donate to the fundraiser. The response has been truly excellent and when we see the photos of how we are positively influencing people's lives, it makes all the effort and work worth it. The whole team is enjoying this task and it is a kind of team-bonding exercise as well. We realise that we are in a position of privilege, that we do not have to struggle for essentials. Other people are not as fortunate, so we must acknowledge the reality and do what we can in this crisis. DSD: You still have a short distance to go to accomplish the goal of 20 lakhs, Sjoerd so why don’t you use this platform to ask viewers to chip in as well. It's just a small amount but will go a long way in helping out those in need... Sjoerd Marijne: I would like to appeal to everyone to support the noble initiative of the women's team and raise money for those who are struggling during the coronavirus crisis. On behalf of our entire team I thank you all for supporting us in the campaign to help needy people during Covid-19. I am happy to share that in just a week we have raised ₹15 Lakhs 1/2 pic.twitter.com/TpVJls1NJZ — Rani Rampal (@imranirampal) April 23, 2020 × DSD: Hopefully we can close out the goal today itself. So Sjoerd personally how has this been for you. How is your family doing back in holland? Sjoerd Marijne: Yes it is challenging, I try to video call my family at least 3-4 times a day. My wife is alone, so it is a tough situation for her and she has to keep herself protected. Earlier I used to be home for about one week every month, but now since the international borders are shut I haven't been back for over two months. The most important thing for everyone, including my family, is to take care of their health. Fortunately, I am able to speak to my family on a daily basis and I am sure we will get through this. DSD: You in fact had tickets to go back in March but you didn’t, international travel does not look very promising at least for the next two-three months, are you feeling rather upset that you can't be with the family right now or you made the right call by staying here? Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, I think I made the correct decision by staying in India. It would have been unfair on my part as coach of the national team to be away from the squad in a time like this. We are also a family here and we have to stick together. DSD: Obviously you must be tracking what is going on in sport back home as well, the Eredivisie was cancelled and no winner this year. I find it extremely brilliant that all teams were on board with this and both Ajax and Alkmaar didn’t object despite being clear leaders... Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, the Eredivisie campaign has been called off, but a lot of discussions are going on at the moment, since not everyone is happy with the way in which the decision was made. But since I am not aware of the details of the state of affairs in the Netherlands, it would be unfair on my part to comment on such matters. DSD: How do you look at sport in general Sjoerd post this pandemic…there is talk of playing behind closed doors to finish European football seasons because there is a lot of money at stake, where do you stand on that, do you think sport can resume at this time? Sjoerd Marijne: The most important thing at the moment to follow the guidelines of the government. They have to guide us during this period. Of course , we would love to be back on the field competing again, but that can only happen when the situation improves and when the government deems it safe enough. We can only speculate on matters, I don't think we will see any international action this year. The world is facing much bigger issues at this point in time and health has to be the top priority. DSD: We have a rather peculiar situation here, people are stuck at home and want to see the sport. The only way to do that is behind closed doors but since you understand team sport better than us you know that there are so many people who are needed for a game to go ahead and you are putting all of them at risk… Sjoerd Marijne: The main question is, how much risk are you willing to take in order to see sports resume? I cannot answer these questions, they are for the government and sporting authorities to address. I understand that it is frustrating for fans around the world to not watch any action, but fighting the pandemic is more important than seeing sport return. We all have to have a lot of patience in these uncertain times. There are a lot of 'what if' questions we have, but none of them has any answers. We cannot even plan for the Olympics yet next year because we don't know when international matches will resume. So, all we can do is wait for government approval and let the authorities decide when action will return. There are much more serious problems the world is dealing with, one of my friend's mother passed away recently and no one could even attend the funeral because of the coronavirus restrictions. So, we have to look at things in perspective when we talk about sport. DSD: Obviously sport as we know it will have to readjust and find 'new normals', what will be the changes in hockey. Obviously it is a team sport and all of you are in close proximity to each other both on the training pitch as well during matches. Sjoerd Marijne: As I said before, we do not know what the situation will be in the next few months. Maybe there is a vaccine that is available this year, then there might not be many changes to the way we play the sport. It is too early to say for sure whether our sport will change or not once it resumes because we have no idea when it will. DSD: I was speaking to Siegfried Aikman earlier this week and he was of the opinion that all coaches are going to have a lot of worries with the Olympics postponed. He felt team dynamics would take a hit with some players having originally planned to retire after the 2020 games. For you with the Indian team what is the road ahead? Sjoerd Marijne: I was obviously disappointed that the Olympics were postponed, but I got over it quickly and started thinking of ways to prepare for the 2021 games. We have a very young squad and this one more year of preparation might prove to be a positive for us. Janneke Schopman, our analytical coach, is a great addition to our team and her inputs will certainly make us stronger, fortunately, we don't have players who are thinking about retirement over the next couple of years. Obviously the postponement means that we have to go back to square one, in terms of our preparation. But there are ways to deal with these circumstances by being mentally strong and not stressing about things that are beyond our control. I see a lot of potential growth for this team over the next year and hopefully, we will be able to play matches soon. DSD: The team was starting to peak and perhaps 12 more months could be perfect for you and make India proper medal contenders? Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, it can work in our favour but we have to wait. Only practice will not help , we will need to play competitive matches for the team to grow. That is why it is important to be patient and wait for the situation to get better. The girls have been training individually for the last nine weeks now and they need a well-deserved break. So, as soon as the lockdown ends, they will be free to return to their families. DSD: As a coach how do you now prepare for the Olympics 15 months away without knowing when you will be allowed to train normally or even travel to play matches, so do you think it is a journey into the unknown for you? Sjoerd Marijne: Yes, it is a real challenge. But we have to adapt and make the best of what we have. I can still control the daily sessions have with my team, we work on strength and conditioning and also analyse other teams. These are the things that I am keeping myself and the team busy with. Everything else is out of my control so I do not waste my time in dwelling on those issues. I have accepted the prevailing situation and try to stay positive. There are much more important things at stake right now and we as a team realise that. A lot of the girls in our team come from poor backgrounds and they understand how difficult it is for families to make ends meet. DSD: The IOA wants all Olympic hopefuls and those qualified to be put into quarantine camps where training can continue. Now you have been in one such camp for more than a month where no outsiders are allowed. How helpful will this be and what advantage will it give to India's sportspersons as not all countries have such large campuses to get their players together? Sjoerd Marijne: We have to follow the guidelines of the government. It would be extremely helpful to our team if we can play hockey, but we will only do it once the approval comes from the government. We have been in quarantine for the last nine weeks, and since the national lockdown was introduced, no one has been allowed to enter the SAI campus in Bengaluru, nor has anyone from inside the campus been allowed to go out. So, fortunately, we are safe here. In some other countries as well, like Germany and the Netherlands, teams have started training. So I'm not sure if India will get a head-start on other teams in terms of preparation. Other countries do not have huge centres as we do in India, but it is still possible for them to train. I think once the situation gets better in India, the government can introduce the quarantine-like camps for other sports as well. DSD: I always like to end on an optimistic note, so what is the most important lesson that you have learnt from this crisis? Sjoerd Marijne: I think I have learned to deal with things on a daily basis. I keep making short term goals for myself to make it easier to overcome the problem. I do not keep dwelling on the fact that I am away from my family, because it will only take away the positivity out of me and that will have an adverse effect on me and the women's team.

Exclusive: 'Proud of the players for raising almost Rs 20 lakhs' - Sjoerd Marijne opens up on Indian women hockey team's fundraiser for needy and more

Tennis world has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with plenty of events postponed including the historic decision of cancelling the Wimbledon. Tokyo Olympics, too, have been pushed back to 2021 amid the pandemic. There are discussions that players below the ranking of 100 are struggling financially due to the lockdown phase. Swiss maestro Roger Federer had even proposed a merger between ATP and WTA in a bid to come out stronger post the lockdown period.&nbsp;

Indian tennis star, Divij Sharan, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about life in lockdown, proposal of a merger between ATP and WTA, financial struggles of tennis players, postponement of Tokyo Olympics and much more…

Digvijay Singh Deo: Divij, been a rough time for the UK through this crisis, how have you been managing through all of this?

Divij Sharan: These are obviously tough times for everybody and things in the UK aren't looking very good at the moment. I am pretty much in my own cocoon and only step out to get essentials. So just like most people in the world, I'm trying to stay safe indoors.

DSD: So was it a conscious decision to base yourself in the UK or were you caught bang in the middle of the shutdown?

Divij Sharan: The last tournament I was involved in was India's Davis Cup tie in Croatia in March. After the tie, I returned to Delhi for a few days. I thought I would travel to England to prepare for the clay-court swing. I was scheduled to play a tournament in Morocco and was supposed to train for three weeks in England. A few days after I arrived in England, tournaments started getting cancelled because of the health crisis. India closed its borders and so did the UK subsequently. All these announcements were made in a short span of time and I have been stuck here since then. But it would have been tougher to deal with the situation if I was alone, but I am with my wife, Samantha Murray, who is British and it is nice to be able to spend some quality time with her.

DSD: I think if anyone wants to understand the meaning of staying fit during this period then they should scroll through your Twitter feed. You have made ample use of the back garden.

Divij Sharan: It is great that my wife is also a tennis player because it means I have a training partner during the lockdown. We are trying our best to keep fit, we have a back garden and we use it to do various tennis drills. We try to be as innovative as we can with the drills so that we can keep ourselves active and also enjoy our sessions.

DSD: The first few weeks may have been tough but now seeing more and more videos of players finding novel ways of training. Rohan Bopanna was hitting those forehands and you have found a way to play both forehand and backhand...

Divij Sharan: It is actually a very strange situation, especially for us tennis players. For 10 months of the year, we are on tour and follow an extremely busy schedule. We have a very short offseason, so we have never had a such a long break away from tennis. There is so much uncertainty that we don't know when the season will resume, so there's no goal we can work towards. There is nothing we as players can prepare for. Most of the players don't have access to a tennis court or a gym, so the skill level of players will also suffer. We are trying to stay fit with whatever resources we have access to. It is a very precarious situation.

<img alt="Exclusive | Divij Sharan in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2f23bf97-ff40-4aa9-8ac3-9fa570720fab" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1BZ6MA.jpg" />

DSD: How tough is this period for an active player Divij, we can still manage to work from home but the tour professional can't make a career playing e-tennis...

Divij Sharan: Yes, certainly. That holds true for all professions, not just tennis. I feel everyone is in the same boat as the crisis. As sportspersons and tennis players, our career span is very short, so we need to continue to make our living. In terms of my career as well, this break throws my future up in the air. I am 34 and I'm not sure how long I will be able to continue playing. There is no drastic improvement in the situation and no one knows when the next tournament will take place. Initially, I felt the break would be a welcome one for me to recharge my batteries and return to the game, but now there seems to be no restart date for the season. It is possible that the tour is suspended even further than July. As a sportsperson, this is how we earn our livelihood and there is no substitute for competitive action.

DSD: Is waiting or not knowing when the tour will start the toughest part?

Divij Sharan: Yes it is especially tough because I would want to be competing at tour events at this stage of my career. I spent many years in the challenger circuit, I had to work my way up to get the opportunity to play at the big-ticket events. So ideally this is when I would want to play as many tournaments as I can and get higher in the rankings.

DSD: Already there has been a sort of announcement from the tennis bodies that there will be a player relief package coming up. How dire is the situation for professionals below the ranking of 100?

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Yes, I feel the top 100 players will be able to deal with the shutdown without any financial problems. But as you move down the rankings, players ranked 400 or 500 are not even breaking even when the tour is on, so they are really struggling during the shutdown. In popular team sports like cricket and football, non-elite players are still able to make a decent living, but that is not the case with tennis players.so not just for the coronavirus crisis, the sport would anyway definitely benefit from a fund for lower-ranked players in the long-term/

DSD: What many do not realise Divij is the actual costs of being a travelling professional. We see the cool photos on social media and think this guy has a sorted life. What we don’t see is the nomadic life, paying bills a shuttling from city to city on the tour.what are the expenses like?

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Yes it's not easy at all. As a doubles player, the prize money for us is nowhere near as much as in the singles competitions. In team sports, there is a backroom and management staff who are there to handle travel arrangements and finances, but tennis players have to manage everything on our own. A player wants to play in as many tournaments as possible, so booking flights and making hotel reservations can get very expensive. If your coach or physio travels with you, then obviously the cost will be doubled. So only players at the top level are able to comfortably manage these expenses.

<img alt="Exclusive | Divij Sharan in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="020608f3-4eb0-424e-902e-1a39521e0b0a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1CY2J2.jpg" />

DSD: Also many others are coming together like Patrick Mouratoglou and Stefanos Tsitsipas to get together a fund for those ranked below 100….Andy Roddick is selling a tennis experience at US Open…

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Many people who are in a privileged position are trying to help out financially. Even in India, Somdev Devvarman is involved with an initiative which is helping out not just the players, but also the support staff whose livelihoods depend on tennis. I've tried to chip in myself and spread awareness on the matter. Any kind of assistance makes a difference. Hopefully, tennis and other sports will be able to overcome this crisis and return soon.

DSD: Through this crisis, we have seen the top players get involved, be it entertaining fans on social media or donating to a cause. Roger Federer made a suggestion calling for the WTA &amp; ATP tours to be merged. Is it time now?

Divij Sharan: Yes, that would be interesting if the two tours merge. Very few tournaments have both men's and women's competitions. Most of the events are either just for men or just for women, apart from the Grand Slams. I think it would be great for tennis and personally, for me, it would be ideal because my wife is also a professional player and we would get to spend more time with each other. It will definitely need a lot of planning and deliberation from all stakeholders.

DSD: Tell us from a players point of you how this will work, obviously there are many tournaments where the men and women play alongside each other outside of the grand slams. Can this be done?

Divij Sharan: From a player's point of view, if the merger does go through, then venues would need to be ready with the necessary infrastructure to be able to hold both men's and women's competitions simultaneously. So the venues will need to have a substantial number of show courts because we want spectators to attend these matches. So the logistical demands might not make the merger possible for every tournament. But even if it can be done for a few events on the tour, then it would be great for the sport.

DSD: What it will also do is open up the possibility of mixed doubles perhaps becoming a regular tour event and not just something we see only at slams and major games.

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Right now the mixed doubles event is only part of grand slams, the Olympics and continental competitions like the Asian Games. If it does become a regular occurrence on the calendar, then things would change drastically. The idea is a little ambitious because of the logistical demands of having a combined event, but if it is possible then I am all for it.

DSD: Talking of the games, the Olympics were pushed back and you were on course for making a first appearance at the games. Indian tennis has done well at multi-discipline games and you won the Asiad gold with bops so how do you look at this postponement.

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Every athlete looks forward to the Olympics since it comes once in four years. Under the circumstances, it is extremely unfortunate that the games were postponed, but there was no other option. Health has to be our top priority and we must overcome this crisis before thinking about preparing for the Olympics next year. All of us want the Olympics to be held in all its glory and in the right spirit.

<img alt="Exclusive | Divij Sharan in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15ce11c2-9c81-404c-82fc-f8e231b18557" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1CY2EC.jpg" />

DSD: Japan PM Shinzo Abe says it will be impossible to hold the Olympics until the virus is contained. So the possibility exists that Tokyo Olympics may never happen. How disturbing is that thought for someone like you who has waited for a chance for so long to make the cut for the Olympics?

Divij Sharan: Yes, it is absolutely devastating. But if the Olympics are not held, then it would probably mean that the tennis season won't start as well, which would also be a huge blow for me. If I get the chance to compete at the Olympics, it would a real honour and the biggest opportunity of my professional career. But I feel it is also important for the regular tennis season to get up and running for other major events to be held.

DSD: Before this lockdown was imposed had you and Rohan Bopanna planned on a run together heading into Tokyo and is that something you will revisit next year.

Divij Sharan: Yes, we had a plan in mind for the 2020 July Olympics. Rohan and I were scheduled to play three clay-court tournaments before the french open. The qualifying period was supposed to end just after Roland Garros. We would have probably played the grass-court swing together as well leading up to the games. But now since the games are going to be held in 2021, we will re-assess our plans once we have more clarity on the situation. Hopefully, we will be able to qualify and get a medal for India at the 2021 Olympics.

DSD: What will be the new normal once it does. Clearly no handshakes but even for a &nbsp;doubles player, there is another person on a court with you so doubles bonding may have to be redefined in the coming days.

Divij Sharan: Yes, our daily life will change considerably in the post-virus world. The way we travel, communicate and plan our lives will not be the same. We might not be able to interact with the fans in the stadium, but I don't think our on-court conduct with our partners will change. A doubles pair spends a lot of time together away from the court as well, so I don't think a fist-bump or a high five will be a health danger. The on-court relationship between partners should not change. But there are bound to be drastic changes away from the court and it will be interesting to see what's in store.

DSD: I always like to end these interviews on an optimistic note so what will Divij do when the lockdown is lifted and the world gets back to normality...

Divij Sharan: I actually miss travelling, so it would be good to get back into my normal routine of going for tournaments. Obviously I would love to be back out on the court. I also haven't been able to meet my family in a while, so I hope I get the opportunity to fly back to Delhi soon. I like travelling by air and keep checking on my 'frequent flyer benefits' with airlines. Strangely I miss being in hotels as well since I'm so used to my nomadic life as a tennis player. Hopefully, I will be able to do all that soon. 
&nbsp;

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Tennis world has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with plenty of events postponed including the historic decision of cancelling the Wimbledon. Tokyo Olympics, too, have been pushed back to 2021 amid the pandemic.

Tennis world has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with plenty of events postponed including the historic decision of cancelling the Wimbledon. Tokyo Olympics, too, have been pushed back to 2021 amid the pandemic. There are discussions that players below the ranking of 100 are struggling financially due to the lockdown phase. Swiss maestro Roger Federer had even proposed a merger between ATP and WTA in a bid to come out stronger post the lockdown period. Indian tennis star, Divij Sharan, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about life in lockdown, proposal of a merger between ATP and WTA, financial struggles of tennis players, postponement of Tokyo Olympics and much more… Digvijay Singh Deo: Divij, been a rough time for the UK through this crisis, how have you been managing through all of this? Divij Sharan: These are obviously tough times for everybody and things in the UK aren't looking very good at the moment. I am pretty much in my own cocoon and only step out to get essentials. So just like most people in the world, I'm trying to stay safe indoors. DSD: So was it a conscious decision to base yourself in the UK or were you caught bang in the middle of the shutdown? Divij Sharan: The last tournament I was involved in was India's Davis Cup tie in Croatia in March. After the tie, I returned to Delhi for a few days. I thought I would travel to England to prepare for the clay-court swing. I was scheduled to play a tournament in Morocco and was supposed to train for three weeks in England. A few days after I arrived in England, tournaments started getting cancelled because of the health crisis. India closed its borders and so did the UK subsequently. All these announcements were made in a short span of time and I have been stuck here since then. But it would have been tougher to deal with the situation if I was alone, but I am with my wife, Samantha Murray, who is British and it is nice to be able to spend some quality time with her. DSD: I think if anyone wants to understand the meaning of staying fit during this period then they should scroll through your Twitter feed. You have made ample use of the back garden. Divij Sharan: It is great that my wife is also a tennis player because it means I have a training partner during the lockdown. We are trying our best to keep fit, we have a back garden and we use it to do various tennis drills. We try to be as innovative as we can with the drills so that we can keep ourselves active and also enjoy our sessions. DSD: The first few weeks may have been tough but now seeing more and more videos of players finding novel ways of training. Rohan Bopanna was hitting those forehands and you have found a way to play both forehand and backhand... Divij Sharan: It is actually a very strange situation, especially for us tennis players. For 10 months of the year, we are on tour and follow an extremely busy schedule. We have a very short offseason, so we have never had a such a long break away from tennis. There is so much uncertainty that we don't know when the season will resume, so there's no goal we can work towards. There is nothing we as players can prepare for. Most of the players don't have access to a tennis court or a gym, so the skill level of players will also suffer. We are trying to stay fit with whatever resources we have access to. It is a very precarious situation. DSD: How tough is this period for an active player Divij, we can still manage to work from home but the tour professional can't make a career playing e-tennis... Divij Sharan: Yes, certainly. That holds true for all professions, not just tennis. I feel everyone is in the same boat as the crisis. As sportspersons and tennis players, our career span is very short, so we need to continue to make our living. In terms of my career as well, this break throws my future up in the air. I am 34 and I'm not sure how long I will be able to continue playing. There is no drastic improvement in the situation and no one knows when the next tournament will take place. Initially, I felt the break would be a welcome one for me to recharge my batteries and return to the game, but now there seems to be no restart date for the season. It is possible that the tour is suspended even further than July. As a sportsperson, this is how we earn our livelihood and there is no substitute for competitive action. DSD: Is waiting or not knowing when the tour will start the toughest part? Divij Sharan: Yes it is especially tough because I would want to be competing at tour events at this stage of my career. I spent many years in the challenger circuit, I had to work my way up to get the opportunity to play at the big-ticket events. So ideally this is when I would want to play as many tournaments as I can and get higher in the rankings. DSD: Already there has been a sort of announcement from the tennis bodies that there will be a player relief package coming up. How dire is the situation for professionals below the ranking of 100? Divij Sharan: Yes, I feel the top 100 players will be able to deal with the shutdown without any financial problems. But as you move down the rankings, players ranked 400 or 500 are not even breaking even when the tour is on, so they are really struggling during the shutdown. In popular team sports like cricket and football, non-elite players are still able to make a decent living, but that is not the case with tennis players.so not just for the coronavirus crisis, the sport would anyway definitely benefit from a fund for lower-ranked players in the long-term/ DSD: What many do not realise Divij is the actual costs of being a travelling professional. We see the cool photos on social media and think this guy has a sorted life. What we don’t see is the nomadic life, paying bills a shuttling from city to city on the tour.what are the expenses like? Divij Sharan: Yes it's not easy at all. As a doubles player, the prize money for us is nowhere near as much as in the singles competitions. In team sports, there is a backroom and management staff who are there to handle travel arrangements and finances, but tennis players have to manage everything on our own. A player wants to play in as many tournaments as possible, so booking flights and making hotel reservations can get very expensive. If your coach or physio travels with you, then obviously the cost will be doubled. So only players at the top level are able to comfortably manage these expenses. DSD: Also many others are coming together like Patrick Mouratoglou and Stefanos Tsitsipas to get together a fund for those ranked below 100….Andy Roddick is selling a tennis experience at US Open… Divij Sharan: Many people who are in a privileged position are trying to help out financially. Even in India, Somdev Devvarman is involved with an initiative which is helping out not just the players, but also the support staff whose livelihoods depend on tennis. I've tried to chip in myself and spread awareness on the matter. Any kind of assistance makes a difference. Hopefully, tennis and other sports will be able to overcome this crisis and return soon. DSD: Through this crisis, we have seen the top players get involved, be it entertaining fans on social media or donating to a cause. Roger Federer made a suggestion calling for the WTA & ATP tours to be merged. Is it time now? Divij Sharan: Yes, that would be interesting if the two tours merge. Very few tournaments have both men's and women's competitions. Most of the events are either just for men or just for women, apart from the Grand Slams. I think it would be great for tennis and personally, for me, it would be ideal because my wife is also a professional player and we would get to spend more time with each other. It will definitely need a lot of planning and deliberation from all stakeholders. DSD: Tell us from a players point of you how this will work, obviously there are many tournaments where the men and women play alongside each other outside of the grand slams. Can this be done? Divij Sharan: From a player's point of view, if the merger does go through, then venues would need to be ready with the necessary infrastructure to be able to hold both men's and women's competitions simultaneously. So the venues will need to have a substantial number of show courts because we want spectators to attend these matches. So the logistical demands might not make the merger possible for every tournament. But even if it can be done for a few events on the tour, then it would be great for the sport. DSD: What it will also do is open up the possibility of mixed doubles perhaps becoming a regular tour event and not just something we see only at slams and major games. Divij Sharan: Right now the mixed doubles event is only part of grand slams, the Olympics and continental competitions like the Asian Games. If it does become a regular occurrence on the calendar, then things would change drastically. The idea is a little ambitious because of the logistical demands of having a combined event, but if it is possible then I am all for it. DSD: Talking of the games, the Olympics were pushed back and you were on course for making a first appearance at the games. Indian tennis has done well at multi-discipline games and you won the Asiad gold with bops so how do you look at this postponement. Divij Sharan: Every athlete looks forward to the Olympics since it comes once in four years. Under the circumstances, it is extremely unfortunate that the games were postponed, but there was no other option. Health has to be our top priority and we must overcome this crisis before thinking about preparing for the Olympics next year. All of us want the Olympics to be held in all its glory and in the right spirit. DSD: Japan PM Shinzo Abe says it will be impossible to hold the Olympics until the virus is contained. So the possibility exists that Tokyo Olympics may never happen. How disturbing is that thought for someone like you who has waited for a chance for so long to make the cut for the Olympics? Divij Sharan: Yes, it is absolutely devastating. But if the Olympics are not held, then it would probably mean that the tennis season won't start as well, which would also be a huge blow for me. If I get the chance to compete at the Olympics, it would a real honour and the biggest opportunity of my professional career. But I feel it is also important for the regular tennis season to get up and running for other major events to be held. DSD: Before this lockdown was imposed had you and Rohan Bopanna planned on a run together heading into Tokyo and is that something you will revisit next year. Divij Sharan: Yes, we had a plan in mind for the 2020 July Olympics. Rohan and I were scheduled to play three clay-court tournaments before the french open. The qualifying period was supposed to end just after Roland Garros. We would have probably played the grass-court swing together as well leading up to the games. But now since the games are going to be held in 2021, we will re-assess our plans once we have more clarity on the situation. Hopefully, we will be able to qualify and get a medal for India at the 2021 Olympics. DSD: What will be the new normal once it does. Clearly no handshakes but even for a doubles player, there is another person on a court with you so doubles bonding may have to be redefined in the coming days. Divij Sharan: Yes, our daily life will change considerably in the post-virus world. The way we travel, communicate and plan our lives will not be the same. We might not be able to interact with the fans in the stadium, but I don't think our on-court conduct with our partners will change. A doubles pair spends a lot of time together away from the court as well, so I don't think a fist-bump or a high five will be a health danger. The on-court relationship between partners should not change. But there are bound to be drastic changes away from the court and it will be interesting to see what's in store. DSD: I always like to end these interviews on an optimistic note so what will Divij do when the lockdown is lifted and the world gets back to normality... Divij Sharan: I actually miss travelling, so it would be good to get back into my normal routine of going for tournaments. Obviously I would love to be back out on the court. I also haven't been able to meet my family in a while, so I hope I get the opportunity to fly back to Delhi soon. I like travelling by air and keep checking on my 'frequent flyer benefits' with airlines. Strangely I miss being in hotels as well since I'm so used to my nomadic life as a tennis player. Hopefully, I will be able to do all that soon.

Exclusive: ATP-WTA merger would be great for tennis - Divij Sharan opens up about Roger Federer's proposal, impact of COVID-19 in world of sports and more

With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting athletes and coaches to work indoors, professional sportspersons and support staff have taken this opportunity to reflect on their tactics and other various aspects of their respective sports.

With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting athletes and coaches to work indoors, professional sportspersons and support staff have taken this opportunity to reflect on their tactics and other various aspects of their respective sports. While hockey remains to be one of the most demanding sports, the prolonged lockdown phase can create a major impact as to how a team plays and fitness levels of players. The head coach of Japanese men's national hockey team, Siegfried Aikman, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on various aspects of hockey, the postponement of Tokyo Olympics, life under lockdown in Japan, Team India's chances in the forthcoming Games and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Thank you for your time, Siegfried, how has it been over there in Japan during the lockdown? Siegfried Aikman: There is a soft lockdown here in Japan, which means that people are allowed to go outside. The government cannot force you to stay inside but the Japanese are very disciplined and obedient, so most of the country is staying indoors. The number of coronavirus cases in Japan is rising, but we don't know the exact number because not many people are being tested. But in Japan the virus has not spread as rapidly as it has in the countries, there are a couple of hotspots, Tokyo and Osaka, but apart from those cities, none of the areas has a high number of cases. DSD: As a foreign national in Japan, what are the precautions you are taking? Siegfried Aikman: Not much different than others. I try to keep track of the latest information, I wear my face mask when I go outside and try to stay home as much as possible. I am following the government's coronavirus and social distancing guidelines. DSD: What about your players, I did read most of them have been released to return to their daily lives, that must be disconcerting for you? Siegfried Aikman: Yes that is a cause for concern, some of my players are in the danger zones of Tokyo and Osaka. The players are supposed to report for duty at the various organisations that they are part of, which increases their chances of contracting the virus as they would be travelling a lot and coming in contact with a lot of people. Even for organising a national camp, we have to negotiate with the companies for player availability. We had a camp organised for our team, but because of the Olympic postponement, the camp was also cancelled. Fortunately, we are monitoring the body temperatures of all our players and are keeping track of their health conditions on a daily basis. If we notice anything untoward, then the information will be conveyed to the player and he will be taken to the hospital. When we were in camp, we isolated a few players who had mild fevers, but fortunately, all of them recovered quickly and none of them had contracted coronavirus. DSD: How has Japan reacted to the postponement of the Olympics? Siegfried Aikman: It was a very brave decision for japan to postpone the Olympics. The country had been planning the event for a long period of time and a lot was riding on it financially. The Olympic village was also set to become public property after the games. But the health of all the athletes and the people of Japan was given priority and the postponement decision was taken keeping that in mind. The IOC was probably forced into making an early decision because of the boycott threats from Australia and Canada. But earlier we have seen the Olympics take place despite certain countries boycotting them. But overall, I think the right decision was made by the IOC and many athletes and felt a sense of relief. The people of Japan wanted to put on a magnificent show for the world and they didn't want a secondary version of the event taking place. The people of Japan were obviously a bit disappointed with the postponement, but they realised that it was necessary. The decision would have never been taken if it was not the only option available to the IOC. The Olympics is obviously not more important than the health of the people. DSD: Already we see a tug of war over who is going to foot the bill for the postponement and it is definitely not going to be a small amount, ultimately it will be the Japanese taxpayer? Siegfried Aikman: Yes that discussion is going on in the country, but it is more of a political matter. It is not so much a concern for the people of Japan. The Japanese people pay a national tax and a local tax, so the national government gets a lot of income. The cost of the postponement will be a multi-billion dollar amount, but I think the organisers and the Japanese government will be able to bear the cost with the support of the sponsors. Ultimately when the Olympics are held, the event will do a lot of good for the people of Japan. View this post on Instagram #Repost @asiahockey with @make_repost ・・・ FIH Senior Coach and Japan Men's team Head Coach, Siegfried Aikman shares some golden tips of knowledge with us. #AsiaHockey #StayAtHome A post shared by サムライジャパン (@japan_hockey_samurai) on Apr 9, 2020 at 4:40pm PDT × DSD: There are voices coming out of japan that if there is no vaccine then the games are as good as over. Is there a determination that comes what may the Olympics have to be held? Siegfried Aikman: Yes, I think the games have to be held in 2021 because further postponement would be impossible. Japanese people are certainly determined to hold the games, but not at all costs. If holding the games is still a health hazard in 2021, then the Olympics will simply not be held. The postponement decision was made quite early, 4 months before the Olympics. Usually, the Japanese wait till the last moment to cancel any event and only do so when it is virtually impossible. At the time the postponement decision was made in March, many countries were still unaffected by the coronavirus, but the fact that a decision was made shows that the IOC and the Japanese organising committee are concerned about the health of the athletes and all those involved. It is likely that the event will be held in 2021. On the other hand, we might just have to learn to live with COVID-19, because a virus like this just doesn't disappear immediately. We might have to find another way of dealing with the virus rather than waiting for it to go away. At the moment we are flattening the curve here in japan, which doesn't mean that the virus will disappear, but it means that the medical workers will be better prepared to treat those patients who are infected. Until we get a vaccine, we just have to hope that the number of cases will decrease and the medical workers are protected enough to treat those patients. Usually coming up with a vaccine takes a few years, but since all the top minds in the world are working towards creating a cure, I am optimistic that we will have one soon. DSD: Getting back to hockey now, how will this break shake-up plans for the Olympics for teams? Surely it will have a massive effect on your approach... Siegfried Aikman: Yes, it totally changes our plans for the Olympics. We were completely ready to perform at the Games in July. We were actually at the final stages of our preparation for the 2020 Olympics. The moment the postponement decision was made, we went back to square one and now we have to start from scratch. This also brings up a number of other problems for us, some of our players wanted to retire after the Olympics. There are also question marks over whether these players will be able to perform at the highest level one year later. The entire tactics or preparation of a team might change for the 2021 Games because an extra year gives teams the opportunity to work on various aspects of the game. This can especially be an advantage for European teams to work on their strategy. The club season in Europe does not give the opportunity to national teams to train that often, but since there is no domestic season on, national teams have the chance to construct a detailed plan. I think all hockey coaches are studying the game at the moment and they will be influenced by certain ideas which are bound to be implemented in the national team's program. But in a way, the postponement can be an advantage for our Japanese team as well because it allows us time to work on our physical fitness, which is crucial at a showpiece event like the Olympics. But, overall the postponement will have mixed consequences for all teams. View this post on Instagram ダイアモンドパートナーの @sompo_japan_official のダンスプロジェクトの足が速くなるダンスということでサムライJAPANのメンバーで踊ってみました 是非見てください！#sompoダンスプロジェクト#足が速くなるダンス #おうちにいよう#stayhome #hockey #samuraijapan #teamnippon #nevergiveup #enjoyhockey #tokyo2020 #comeonsamurai #teamjapan #roadtotokyo #がんばろう日本🇯🇵 #大和魂 #サムライジャパン #サムライjapan #ホッケー #ホッケー男子 #tokyo #olympic #2020 #olympicgames A post shared by サムライジャパン (@japan_hockey_samurai) on Apr 25, 2020 at 2:15am PDT × DSD: At the start of the year you sort of knew that some teams had momentum, now with little to no action expected to take place over the next few months, the 2021 Games could be a journey into the unknown... Siegfried Aikman: I disagree. I think there will be certain competitions which could possibly begin by September or October. The European club leagues will take place, the FIH Pro League will hopefully be up and running in the next few months. While the Asian Champions Trophy is also scheduled for this year. So I feel there are enough competitions for teams to practice and prepare before the scheduled games next year. I think the pro league will take place, but in a scenario when it is cancelled, we will still have other international tournaments like the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup take place later this year. Many teams will also organise some test matches to have the opportunity to get back into the groove of things. While we cannot go out and practice on the field, we can still work on ideas and team tactics. These can still be discussed with the players. We can work on strategy and the decision-making skills of our players through video conference team meetings. Many national associations have also provided their athletes with fitness equipment, so the players will be in good shape. In terms of mental preparedness as well, the athletes can use this time to become more tactically aware. Very often it gets difficult to work on our tactics in an in-depth manner because of the lack of time. This might be an interesting outcome of the lockdown, I am looking forward to seeing how the game will change once we're back on the pitch. Hockey coaches can also use this time studying other sports and incorporate ideas that will help their system of play. I am using my time studying different sports. DSD: Do teams like India then have an advantage, the camp didn’t break up, they are still in a quarantine camp of sort. Mostly across Europe, the players assemble only ahead of major events for camps... Siegfried Aikman: It is definitely an advantage to be together with your team in a camp. As long as the guidelines are being followed, then it is an ideal situation because constant communication can take place between team members and coaching staff. Another thing that people are not talking about at the moment, is that athletes can use this period to recover physically and mentally. It is an opportunity to develop a fresh mindset or learn a new skill which could eventually help their performance on the pitch. A rest period is also important for an athlete after a hectic period. Many times you see in individual sports, that players return after a long injury lay-off and win major championships. This happens because athletes get time to re-energise and re-calibrate. Many national teams have very intense programs and camps, this might be a welcome break for them and give them the opportunity to take a step back and reflect. DSD: How impressed have you been by India in recent times, do you see them now as proper claimants for an Olympics medal? Siegfried Aikman: Yes, I can see India finishing on the podium in Tokyo. The Indian team that you see now is a result of the plan put in place by former Hockey India chief Narinder Batra after the 2010 Hockey World Cup in Delhi. Foreign coaches with a winning mentality were employed. The European style of play was also incorporated, but without compromising on the Indian flair. Each coach that India has had over the last few years has influenced the team in a positive manner and contributed to their growth. Now we see a wonderful team which is a threat to all the top nations in the world, but this is the result of a ten-year process. In those ten years, the team has taken gradual steps and climbed the ladder to become a top-five team. The success that India has had has been well-deserved and if you notice that each time a coach has been changed, there has been steady progress. India put in an impressive display at the 2018 world cup as well, they were unlucky to lose in the quarter-finals to the Netherlands. They were not outplayed by the Dutch, who is one of the best teams in the world. With a bit of luck, the 2-1 scoreline could have been reversed. In the recent FIH Pro League as well, the team continues to develop and showed that it can compete against the very best, the likes of Belgium, Australia and Germany. So, India is a very promising team and they can draw confidence from their recent results. At the 2018 Asian games, we were expecting to play India in the final, but unfortunately, Malaysia stunned the blues in the semis. luckily we were able to beat Malaysia in the final and I was delighted as a coach. But despite that disappointment at the Asian games, India grew as a team. India has a talented bunch of players with tough competition for places, just like Belgium. In Belgium's case some players who were part of the squad that won the world cup back in 2018, might not make the Olympic squad. I think the priority for India under Graham Reid will be to reach the quarter-finals at the Olympics. Once a team reaches the knockouts, then anything is possible and India can beat any team on their day.

Exclusive: 'Can see India finishing on podium in Tokyo Olympics' - Siegfried Aikman discusses hockey post-lockdown, postponement of 2020 Games and more

With COVID-19 pandemic continuing to keep everyone indoors, sporting action has witnessed an unprecedented halt with almost every tournament and leagues getting either cancelled or postponed. However, some of the countries are contemplating resuming sporting action, behind closed doors, with strict hygienic measures. Sporting bodies have already suffered huge losses due to cancellation of events with some of the football clubs standing down their staff due to financial crisis.

Former captain of the Indian football team and the recipient of Padma Shri, Bhaichung Bhutia, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, racially provoked attacks on people from North East, struggles of a sportsperson after a prolonged break, football post-COVID-19, and much more…

Digvijay Singh Deo: Bhaichung, good to be able to speak to you, I gather you too were stranded when the lockdown was imposed...

Bhaichung: I have been in Siliguri because I got stuck here while going to Kolkata from Sikkim. My family&nbsp;are in Kolkata, so it is unfortunate that I cannot be with them. But apart from that, it has been a pleasant experience here in Siliguri, it is a beautiful town and since I'm from Sikkim, I love the hills. Luckily I also have some friends here.

DSD: How has it been for you, now it has been over a month and you have always been an outdoors person...

Bhaichung: It has actually been a welcome change for me. I have been travelling quite a lot and it has been hectic for me recently. So it is good that i have this downtime for myself. I also didn't get time to work out because of my earlier schedule, but these days i am trying to improve my fitness levels. I'm also trying to help out as many people as I can in these times of crisis, through my football club - United Sikkim. Any person who needs assistance can contact the number we have put out on social media and we will try to do what we can to help.

DSD: But you must be really happy that while you are stranded in Siliguri, your state of Sikkim has been exemplary in stopping the spread of the virus...

Bhaichung: Yes, Sikkim has done a commendable job in ensuring the disease does not spread rapidly. The geographic location of the state and lack of connectivity has worked in our favour, the airport also hasn't been functioning for a while. The government of Sikkim also has taken proactive measures and the guidelines have been followed religiously by the people of the state. As a result, there are very few coronavirus cases. We were also lucky because the virus started spreading during the early part of the year when very few tourists are in the state. If the virus outbreak had happened in the summer months of May or June, then it would have been a catastrophic situation, about 10-15 lakh tourists come to Sikkim during that period.

<img alt="Exclusive: 'Hope people appreciate value of sport and fitness after crisis' - Bhaichung Bhutia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f11e031d-9ca0-443f-aa5d-39958ca95a6e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Par2735967.jpg" />

DSD: The tourism economy in the state has also taken a big hit...

Bhaichung: Yes, one of the biggest sources of income for people in Sikkim is tourism. During the summer months is where most people in the industry make a large chunk of their money. But there isn't going to be any tourism this season. I feel the taxi drivers are going to be the worst hit since they don't have long term savings and have taken loans for their commercial vehicles. I hope the government comes up with a relief package for them. Even if the lockdown ends, I don't think people are going to travel to places for pleasure in the near future. In fact, I don't think we will see much tourism in the next year, till the time a vaccination is created for the virus. I think until that time people will be sceptical of travelling to other places.

DSD: But while staying at home is important equally important is the availability of food and essential supplies...and especially hilly areas could be difficult to get the information...

Bhaichung: Fortunately, people in rural areas in Sikkim do have access to essentials to sustain themselves. Most people in these areas depend on their own cultivation for food, so agricultural activities have been going on, but at a lesser scale. The government has also been proactive in providing ration to those in need. So overall, the way Sikkim has dealt with the crisis has been excellent.

DSD: There is also the tyranny of distance that the further away you are from Delhi the lesser the information...how has the northeast as a whole been through this last one month, I am told that in Assam there have been issues especially with the daily wage labourers...

Bhaichung: I think the various governments in the northeastern states have been very vigilant during these times. Since Assam is the biggest state in the region, there are many migrant workers who work in industrial areas there, so they are going through tough times, but there is some relief being provided to them by the state government. But the situation here is not as extreme as we see in other parts of the country. The government's measures have ensured that the virus does not spread rapidly. Some states like Manipur and Tripura have zero coronavirus cases as of now.

DSD: Bhaichung, you have been captain of India, Sunil is the captain of India now, Mary has been a tremendous icon for India yet there have been incidents of racially provoked attacks on people from North East...how disappointed are you each time you read or see such visuals?

Bhaichung: It is very upsetting when you see or read about acts of any sort of racial discrimination. I think we as a country must make people more aware and spread the message of unity in diversity because such incidents have been taking place for a long time. At the same time, stringent action must be taken against the culprits of these deplorable acts to set an example. If India wants to become a stronger nation, then we have to unite against any injustice that takes place. Such racist incidents are a black-mark on the diverse social fabric of the country and are an obstacle to our growth as a nation.

<img alt="Exclusive: 'Hope people appreciate value of sport and fitness after crisis' - Bhaichung Bhutia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="964e3237-1b1a-4399-bdac-c5cf304ee85e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del218381.jpg" />

DSD: The government also had to come up with strong deterrents to ensure doctors and nurses on duty are not attacked. What does it tells you about the mentality of people who are attacking the very people out there battling this crisis?

Bhaichung: It is extremely unfortunate that the healthcare workers, who are putting their lives at risk, are being attacked. Earlier, I appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stringent action against the attackers. We must protect out healthcare workers, especially during the coronavirus crisis. Not only must they be protected from such incidents, but measures should also to ensure medical workers are themselves immune from the virus, we have observed in Italy, there was a such a major spike in cases because the medical workers themselves were falling prey to the disease. So in a country like India, we cannot afford to lose any medical staff in these times. I'm glad that a law has been passed and the government has taken a 'zero-tolerance' stand towards those who attack our front-line workers.

DSD: But this country owes a debt of gratitude to every person, doctors nurses, police, government officials, trash collectors, drivers, everyone who is out there trying to keep the country running, it isn’t an easy task...

Bhaichung: Absolutely, it is because of these people that we are safe and secure inside our respective houses. They have been risking our lives in order to save ours. All of us should ensure that their work is appreciated and they are looked after financially. The chief minister of Odisha, Mr Naveen Patnaik, announced a compensation package worth rupees 50 lakhs for any worker who loses his or her life while battling the coronavirus pandemic. I think this is a great initiative and more state governments should follow suit. It can also spur the people who are fighting on the front-lines.

DSD: There have been certain positive changes that have taken place during the lockdown as well, animals are roaming freely and the air quality has improved considerably... But let’s talk about sports now...unprecedented to see sports&nbsp;wiped off the map at the moment...

Bhaichung: Yes there have been a few pleasant changes that have taken place during the lockdown, the air quality has improved and the rivers are getting cleaner. But the challenge will be to sustain this. But these positive changes, of course, come while thousand of people are dying across the world. In terms of the sporting calendar, this is unprecedented. &nbsp;But I'm sure once the lockdown ends, all sports will return stronger with the right kind of measures taken by the federations. I hope people appreciate the value of sport and fitness after the crisis. Physical fitness can go a long way in maintaining the health and safety of the individual. So I hope this is one lesson we can take from this crisis. Even if people can take out a little bit of time daily from their busy schedules to work out, it will make their lives better.

DSD: There are a lot of anxious sportspersons out there, Bhaichung, who were preparing for their Olympic bow...what is your advice to them as they sit at home?

Bhaichung: The most important thing right now for any sportsperson would be to stay positive. It is especially challenging for senior athletes because one year can be a long time for them in their professional careers. But the postponement could also benefit certain athletes since they would have more time for preparation.

<img alt="Exclusive: 'Hope people appreciate value of sport and fitness after crisis' - Bhaichung Bhutia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6fe46ac9-7839-457e-a570-c4bcbede7fdf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del133746.jpg" />

DSD: Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand suggested to me that perhaps the ministry should run quarantine camps to ensure our athletes continue to train...sounds feasible to you, even the Indian Olympic Association has now asked for the same...

Bhaichung: Yes I think it is a great suggestion from Pullela Gopichand, it can start with individual sports like badminton and tennis and then when the situation improves, camps can be set up for team sports like football. The top-level players who live close to big cities such as Bengaluru and Delhi can assemble in a sports authority of India complex or any facility approved by the sports ministry. &nbsp;When flights start functioning again, more athletes can join those quarantine camps from different parts of the country.

DSD: How difficult is it for a sportsperson to recover after losing touch with what they do best and how much time will it take for them to regain their peak?

Bhaichung: It does take time, there is no doubt about it. In any sport which requires endurance, athletes have to maintain their fitness levels when they are not competing. In a sport like badminton, if a player does not train for a week or ten days, there is a drastic drop in fitness levels. In other individual sports like tennis,&nbsp;wrestling and boxing as well, you need another player to compete against, but at the moment no one has that privilege. &nbsp;Not just physical fitness, but an athlete also needs to be in an environment where he or she is mentally prepared for competing at the top level. So it is important for athletes to maintain some level of fitness during the lockdown so that they find it easier to get into their regular training schedule once the lockdown ends.

DSD: In your sport football, how much of an impact is this shutdown having on professional football in the country? Do you think smaller clubs will be able to survive this financial crisis?

Bhaichung: If the virus continues to be a threat for the next few months, then the smaller clubs are definitely going to struggle financially. The good thing for Indian football is the outbreak happened when the season was about to finish, the ISL&nbsp;final took place behind closed doors while the i-league was on the verge of completion. So hopefully when the off-season gets over in 3-4 months, we will be able to hold matches while taking the necessary precautions.so if it is possible to begin matches by august or September, even if it is in empty stadiums, then I feel football action should resume. There is a huge market for football in India now, with a substantial television and digital audience which can generate a considerable income for the clubs and players. So, if the green light is given by the government to begin the Indian football season by September, then the All India Football Federation should definitely do all that they can to ensure that the campaign is held.

DSD: Globally, should football resume behind closed doors, there are some countries like Germany who are ready to restart their season...

Bhaichung:&nbsp;Yes, Germany is ready to resume season in may behind closed doors, and I feel if the necessary precautions are taken and if it is safe to do so, then it is the correct decision. The top five leagues in Europe have got a huge audience outside their own countries. It is unfortunate that games will have to take place behind closed doors, but since they have an opportunity to resume the season, football action should be held. Football is the most popular sport in the world and people are longing to watch some sort of sporting activities, so there is also huge revenue to be made.

DSD: How difficult will it be for clubs to get their players up to full fitness after what could end up as a two to three-month break?

Bhaichung: Since most teams in European clubs have been together for a few seasons, I don't think they will need much time to be on the same wavelength again as a team. The only challenge will be for them to regain their fitness levels, but that also should not take more than 10-15 days to achieve. I think if the green signal is given to the leagues, players and coaches will need two weeks to prepare for the resumption. There is a huge opportunity for leagues to begin in the next month and I wouldn't be surprised to see the action resume very soon.

DSD: Do you think that this period without sport anywhere will actually make everyone appreciate the value of a sportsperson, even more, we sort of take things for granted but not anymore...

Bhaichung: I certainly hope sport and sportspersons are appreciated more after the shutdown. Everyone is in the habit of watching sporting action on television during the weekend and I believe once the lockdown is over that all sports will be cherished more. But at the same time, I hope people in India start taking more care of their fitness, especially since we are not a sporting nation. So everyone is talking about investing in health and medical facilities, but apart from that if we can also invest in sports infrastructure, then it will go a long way in improving our collective health and fitness levels. So hopefully there will be more stadiums built, more spaces for children to play in in the future, which will lead to a healthier nation. 
&nbsp;

With COVID-19 pandemic continuing to keep everyone indoors, sporting action has witnessed an unprecedented halt with almost every tournament and leagues getting either cancelled or postponed.

With COVID-19 pandemic continuing to keep everyone indoors, sporting action has witnessed an unprecedented halt with almost every tournament and leagues getting either cancelled or postponed. However, some of the countries are contemplating resuming sporting action, behind closed doors, with strict hygienic measures. Sporting bodies have already suffered huge losses due to cancellation of events with some of the football clubs standing down their staff due to financial crisis. Former captain of the Indian football team and the recipient of Padma Shri, Bhaichung Bhutia, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on life in lockdown, racially provoked attacks on people from North East, struggles of a sportsperson after a prolonged break, football post-COVID-19, and much more… Digvijay Singh Deo: Bhaichung, good to be able to speak to you, I gather you too were stranded when the lockdown was imposed... Bhaichung: I have been in Siliguri because I got stuck here while going to Kolkata from Sikkim. My family are in Kolkata, so it is unfortunate that I cannot be with them. But apart from that, it has been a pleasant experience here in Siliguri, it is a beautiful town and since I'm from Sikkim, I love the hills. Luckily I also have some friends here. DSD: How has it been for you, now it has been over a month and you have always been an outdoors person... Bhaichung: It has actually been a welcome change for me. I have been travelling quite a lot and it has been hectic for me recently. So it is good that i have this downtime for myself. I also didn't get time to work out because of my earlier schedule, but these days i am trying to improve my fitness levels. I'm also trying to help out as many people as I can in these times of crisis, through my football club - United Sikkim. Any person who needs assistance can contact the number we have put out on social media and we will try to do what we can to help. DSD: But you must be really happy that while you are stranded in Siliguri, your state of Sikkim has been exemplary in stopping the spread of the virus... Bhaichung: Yes, Sikkim has done a commendable job in ensuring the disease does not spread rapidly. The geographic location of the state and lack of connectivity has worked in our favour, the airport also hasn't been functioning for a while. The government of Sikkim also has taken proactive measures and the guidelines have been followed religiously by the people of the state. As a result, there are very few coronavirus cases. We were also lucky because the virus started spreading during the early part of the year when very few tourists are in the state. If the virus outbreak had happened in the summer months of May or June, then it would have been a catastrophic situation, about 10-15 lakh tourists come to Sikkim during that period. DSD: The tourism economy in the state has also taken a big hit... Bhaichung: Yes, one of the biggest sources of income for people in Sikkim is tourism. During the summer months is where most people in the industry make a large chunk of their money. But there isn't going to be any tourism this season. I feel the taxi drivers are going to be the worst hit since they don't have long term savings and have taken loans for their commercial vehicles. I hope the government comes up with a relief package for them. Even if the lockdown ends, I don't think people are going to travel to places for pleasure in the near future. In fact, I don't think we will see much tourism in the next year, till the time a vaccination is created for the virus. I think until that time people will be sceptical of travelling to other places. DSD: But while staying at home is important equally important is the availability of food and essential supplies...and especially hilly areas could be difficult to get the information... Bhaichung: Fortunately, people in rural areas in Sikkim do have access to essentials to sustain themselves. Most people in these areas depend on their own cultivation for food, so agricultural activities have been going on, but at a lesser scale. The government has also been proactive in providing ration to those in need. So overall, the way Sikkim has dealt with the crisis has been excellent. DSD: There is also the tyranny of distance that the further away you are from Delhi the lesser the information...how has the northeast as a whole been through this last one month, I am told that in Assam there have been issues especially with the daily wage labourers... Bhaichung: I think the various governments in the northeastern states have been very vigilant during these times. Since Assam is the biggest state in the region, there are many migrant workers who work in industrial areas there, so they are going through tough times, but there is some relief being provided to them by the state government. But the situation here is not as extreme as we see in other parts of the country. The government's measures have ensured that the virus does not spread rapidly. Some states like Manipur and Tripura have zero coronavirus cases as of now. DSD: Bhaichung, you have been captain of India, Sunil is the captain of India now, Mary has been a tremendous icon for India yet there have been incidents of racially provoked attacks on people from North East...how disappointed are you each time you read or see such visuals? Bhaichung: It is very upsetting when you see or read about acts of any sort of racial discrimination. I think we as a country must make people more aware and spread the message of unity in diversity because such incidents have been taking place for a long time. At the same time, stringent action must be taken against the culprits of these deplorable acts to set an example. If India wants to become a stronger nation, then we have to unite against any injustice that takes place. Such racist incidents are a black-mark on the diverse social fabric of the country and are an obstacle to our growth as a nation. DSD: The government also had to come up with strong deterrents to ensure doctors and nurses on duty are not attacked. What does it tells you about the mentality of people who are attacking the very people out there battling this crisis? Bhaichung: It is extremely unfortunate that the healthcare workers, who are putting their lives at risk, are being attacked. Earlier, I appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stringent action against the attackers. We must protect out healthcare workers, especially during the coronavirus crisis. Not only must they be protected from such incidents, but measures should also to ensure medical workers are themselves immune from the virus, we have observed in Italy, there was a such a major spike in cases because the medical workers themselves were falling prey to the disease. So in a country like India, we cannot afford to lose any medical staff in these times. I'm glad that a law has been passed and the government has taken a 'zero-tolerance' stand towards those who attack our front-line workers. DSD: But this country owes a debt of gratitude to every person, doctors nurses, police, government officials, trash collectors, drivers, everyone who is out there trying to keep the country running, it isn’t an easy task... Bhaichung: Absolutely, it is because of these people that we are safe and secure inside our respective houses. They have been risking our lives in order to save ours. All of us should ensure that their work is appreciated and they are looked after financially. The chief minister of Odisha, Mr Naveen Patnaik, announced a compensation package worth rupees 50 lakhs for any worker who loses his or her life while battling the coronavirus pandemic. I think this is a great initiative and more state governments should follow suit. It can also spur the people who are fighting on the front-lines. DSD: There have been certain positive changes that have taken place during the lockdown as well, animals are roaming freely and the air quality has improved considerably... But let’s talk about sports now...unprecedented to see sports wiped off the map at the moment... Bhaichung: Yes there have been a few pleasant changes that have taken place during the lockdown, the air quality has improved and the rivers are getting cleaner. But the challenge will be to sustain this. But these positive changes, of course, come while thousand of people are dying across the world. In terms of the sporting calendar, this is unprecedented. But I'm sure once the lockdown ends, all sports will return stronger with the right kind of measures taken by the federations. I hope people appreciate the value of sport and fitness after the crisis. Physical fitness can go a long way in maintaining the health and safety of the individual. So I hope this is one lesson we can take from this crisis. Even if people can take out a little bit of time daily from their busy schedules to work out, it will make their lives better. DSD: There are a lot of anxious sportspersons out there, Bhaichung, who were preparing for their Olympic bow...what is your advice to them as they sit at home? Bhaichung: The most important thing right now for any sportsperson would be to stay positive. It is especially challenging for senior athletes because one year can be a long time for them in their professional careers. But the postponement could also benefit certain athletes since they would have more time for preparation. DSD: Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand suggested to me that perhaps the ministry should run quarantine camps to ensure our athletes continue to train...sounds feasible to you, even the Indian Olympic Association has now asked for the same... Bhaichung: Yes I think it is a great suggestion from Pullela Gopichand, it can start with individual sports like badminton and tennis and then when the situation improves, camps can be set up for team sports like football. The top-level players who live close to big cities such as Bengaluru and Delhi can assemble in a sports authority of India complex or any facility approved by the sports ministry. When flights start functioning again, more athletes can join those quarantine camps from different parts of the country. DSD: How difficult is it for a sportsperson to recover after losing touch with what they do best and how much time will it take for them to regain their peak? Bhaichung: It does take time, there is no doubt about it. In any sport which requires endurance, athletes have to maintain their fitness levels when they are not competing. In a sport like badminton, if a player does not train for a week or ten days, there is a drastic drop in fitness levels. In other individual sports like tennis, wrestling and boxing as well, you need another player to compete against, but at the moment no one has that privilege. Not just physical fitness, but an athlete also needs to be in an environment where he or she is mentally prepared for competing at the top level. So it is important for athletes to maintain some level of fitness during the lockdown so that they find it easier to get into their regular training schedule once the lockdown ends. DSD: In your sport football, how much of an impact is this shutdown having on professional football in the country? Do you think smaller clubs will be able to survive this financial crisis? Bhaichung: If the virus continues to be a threat for the next few months, then the smaller clubs are definitely going to struggle financially. The good thing for Indian football is the outbreak happened when the season was about to finish, the ISL final took place behind closed doors while the i-league was on the verge of completion. So hopefully when the off-season gets over in 3-4 months, we will be able to hold matches while taking the necessary precautions.so if it is possible to begin matches by august or September, even if it is in empty stadiums, then I feel football action should resume. There is a huge market for football in India now, with a substantial television and digital audience which can generate a considerable income for the clubs and players. So, if the green light is given by the government to begin the Indian football season by September, then the All India Football Federation should definitely do all that they can to ensure that the campaign is held. DSD: Globally, should football resume behind closed doors, there are some countries like Germany who are ready to restart their season... Bhaichung: Yes, Germany is ready to resume season in may behind closed doors, and I feel if the necessary precautions are taken and if it is safe to do so, then it is the correct decision. The top five leagues in Europe have got a huge audience outside their own countries. It is unfortunate that games will have to take place behind closed doors, but since they have an opportunity to resume the season, football action should be held. Football is the most popular sport in the world and people are longing to watch some sort of sporting activities, so there is also huge revenue to be made. DSD: How difficult will it be for clubs to get their players up to full fitness after what could end up as a two to three-month break? Bhaichung: Since most teams in European clubs have been together for a few seasons, I don't think they will need much time to be on the same wavelength again as a team. The only challenge will be for them to regain their fitness levels, but that also should not take more than 10-15 days to achieve. I think if the green signal is given to the leagues, players and coaches will need two weeks to prepare for the resumption. There is a huge opportunity for leagues to begin in the next month and I wouldn't be surprised to see the action resume very soon. DSD: Do you think that this period without sport anywhere will actually make everyone appreciate the value of a sportsperson, even more, we sort of take things for granted but not anymore... Bhaichung: I certainly hope sport and sportspersons are appreciated more after the shutdown. Everyone is in the habit of watching sporting action on television during the weekend and I believe once the lockdown is over that all sports will be cherished more. But at the same time, I hope people in India start taking more care of their fitness, especially since we are not a sporting nation. So everyone is talking about investing in health and medical facilities, but apart from that if we can also invest in sports infrastructure, then it will go a long way in improving our collective health and fitness levels. So hopefully there will be more stadiums built, more spaces for children to play in in the future, which will lead to a healthier nation.

Exclusive: 'Hope people appreciate value of sport and fitness after crisis' - Bhaichung Bhutia opens up on life under lockdown, impact of pandemic on global football and more

Sporting events have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with players and coaching staff being restricted to train and work indoors. Major events like the Olympics, Wimbledon, ISSF World Cup, among many others have been either postponed or cancelled amid the pandemic.

Sporting events have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with players and coaching staff being restricted to train and work indoors. Major events like the Olympics, Wimbledon, ISSF World Cup, among many others have been either postponed or cancelled amid the pandemic. There is a sense of uncertainty as to when live action will resume as almost the entire world continues to remain under lockdown. Former Olympian shooter and current high-performance coach with the Indian junior rifle team, Suma Shirur, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on the challenges of training under lockdown, how players will regain rhythm post-COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of announcing shooting team for Olympics 15 months before the Games, the proposal of quarantine camps, and much more... × Digvijay Singh Deo: Suma, thanks for joining me...this lockdown has turned your life upside down, one part of the family in goa but you did manage to get your son out of Germany on the last possible flight... Suma Shirur: Yes, it has been quite a challenge for us to get the family together, but eventually we did manage to find our way. My son did return from Germany and was initially quarantined for 14 days, but with the lockdown, he has been indoors for much longer now. But the most important thing is that he is healthy. My in-laws are in Goa and they too are safe and secure. The silver lining of the lockdown is that I am able to spend quality time with my family, something I haven't done for the last two years. DSD: For you personally, is this a welcome pause after a rather hectic run since the Rio Olympics? Suma Shirur: Yes that's true. I have been very busy since I took charge as a high-performance coach of the Indian team two years back, I have not been able to spend more than a week at home during that period. So this lockdown, especially the initial couple of weeks, was a blessing in disguise for me. I was able to earn some much-needed rest and be able to relax at home with my family. Recently, I have started working properly again, we are doing online interaction and exercises with our shooters. There is an acceptance from everyone about the gravity of the prevailing situation and we are trying to find ways to work around it. We cannot wait for the lockdown to end, so we have to plan ahead. DSD: You know what it takes to compete at the Olympics, in fact, the sacrifice of the Olympian is best typified by you as you left your son who must have been two or three when you trained abroad for the Athens Olympics...How disappointing is it for the sportsperson to see the Olympics pushed back? Suma Shirur: Yes I feel it's very disappointing, but then again the International Olympic Committee had no choice. It's especially a setback to our team because I feel the entire Indian team was very well prepared for the games. After the debacle at the Rio games, concrete measures were put in place and we were reaping the benefits of those policies. Most of our shooters are ranked in the top 3 in the world, so we had a team that was ready to compete for gold at Tokyo 2020. So in that sense, the postponement hurt because it wasn't pushed back by 1 or 2 months, but by an entire year. But we have now accepted the decision and we will now strive to be the best team in the world one year later. DSD: I was speaking to Abhinav Bindra a few weeks ago and he suggested that India's coaches need to mentor our younger lot through these tough times... Suma Shirur: Yes, we do have a young team and they have to be guided in the right direction. But that is why we are constantly in touch with them for their support. Even today we had an online call with all the shooters, coaching staff and physios. There is a plan in place for each one of them. So, overall I think this is a tough situation for the young guns to handle, but we are mentoring them every step of the way. With the plan we have in place, our shooters should stay on track for a strong performance at next year's Olympics. DSD: As a coach how have you been interacting with your wards...how do you ensure they stay sharp? Suma Shirur: That is one of the biggest challenges the federation faces, to ensure that the shooters maintain their form. So we have come up with a few contingency plans, depending on how soon w will overcome this COVID-19 crisis. The first scenario is a bit optimistic where our players will get back to training in shooting ranges in July and August, given things improve and we are allowed to do so. But otherwise, it is likely that things do not open up and we might be at home for an extended period of time, with no international or domestic competitions in the calendar. The most important thing is for our athletes to be ready for each scenario. This crisis could go one for the whole year and we might not see any more competitions this season. We are trying to ensure that every shooter has a single lane shooting range in his or her house. Many of them already have mini-ranges, and we are working towards building them for those who do not have access to a range. Even the president of the federation has strongly given his backing to the idea, saying there must be an electronic target system at the shooter's homes so that their training doesn't take a hit. So that would the first step in implementing our long term plan. DSD: Not everyone can shoot at home like and dry practice isn't the same is it...we have also seen the birth of online competitions, is that the way forward you feel? Suma Shirur: Online competitions area great way for shooters to remain competitive, but we can only have those is every shooter has a system in their house, which is not the case. Wall-holding exercises can be done, but that also gets repetitive after a certain period of time. That is why we have made it a priority to ensure that all our shooters, especially the Olympic core group, have an electronic target system at home. That is what we are working on right now and it's going to be a major challenge. DSD: How long do you think it will take our shooters to reach their peak again? Because it will be difficult for them to sustain it during this period. Suma Shirur: Once we get back, I think there will be a big difference between the senior shooters and junior shooters. Some of our shooters have been in the international circuit for than ten years, so they have very strong muscle memory. I think it will take them about a month to get back in the groove. I think the major challenge will be for the junior shooters since they haven't been in the game for a long time. Their bodies are also changing as they grow, so they will need to adapt accordingly. But I think they have enough talent and ability to overcome this challenge. They will need a lot of guidance during this time, but I think after a couple of months in training, they should be back on track. Both the junior and senior shooters though, have to keep themselves physically fit during the lockdown. Even if they are not shooting regularly, they should follow a fitness regime because that will make it easier for them to return to form when they are back shooting competitively. DSD: How difficult will it be for shooters to extend their peak for close to three years, the likes of Apurvi and Anjum have already won quotas in 2018... Suma Shirur: When we speak about Anjum Moudgil and Apurvi Chandela, it has been a challenge for them to maintain their form after winning a quote place in 2018, but they have proven themselves already with their performances in the last two years. They have done exceptionally well in the competitions and I don't think it will be tough for them to maintain that same level of performance for one more year. As long as they have the hunger and desire to win competitions, they will undoubtedly be able to carry their excellent form into the Olympics next year. In fact, I believe that this lockdown could be a welcome break for most of our shooters. They have been extremely busy in the last two years, competing at the highest level. They cal use this break to recharge their batteries and re-calibrate things. This might actually help them in taking their performances to the next level, rather than halting their momentum. DSD: That brings me to a crucial point...NRAI has been talking about declaring the team for Tokyo 2021. My concern is, should a team for a competition 15 months away be declared now? Suma Shirur: Initially I was also of the opinion to wait till next year to announce the team for the games. A trial close to next year's games made sense before announcing the team. But looking at the crisis that we have at our hands, I don't think the situation is going to improve in the short term. So we don't know what situation the athletes are going to be in next year. I believe that it would be unfair on the shooters to hold the Olympic trials next year if no international or domestic competitions take place in the calendar. The team for the 2020 games would have been announced in march if it had not been for the coronavirus pandemic. So I think going forward, it would appropriate to announce team and protect their place for the Olympics. That way we can focus on training those shooters and use our resources for their preparation. We could also organise a camp where only the Olympic shooters can train while following the guidelines of the government. DSD: Should there be a quarantine camp as Pullela Gopichand suggested to me and like what the IOA has proposed yesterday? Suma Shirur: Yes I would very much support to that proposal. I think the various sporting bodies have started discussing the possibility of holding such camps in a couple of months time when the government will start easing certain restrictions. Of course, that would require guaranteeing the health and safety of all the players and coaches, which means all the relevant medical tests would take place before the champs start. But these camps cannot be for a large number of people, they must be held only for the Olympic core group so that isolation in some form can be practised. The NRAI is definitely looking at the possibility of organising such a camp. DSD: My worry is that by announcing a team now we may not send the best, inf-form shooters to the Olympics, we have seen the folly of sending a pre-decided team earlier to the Olympics in the past where shooters were not in-form... Suma Shirur: I feel we cannot just assume that the international competitions will take place this season. We can't keep waiting for the situation to improve or the crisis to boil over. There has to be at least one plan in place for Olympic preparation. Even if we have trials for the hopefuls next year close to the Games, is it going to be fair on those who haven't trained in the past few months? When they have already proven themselves to be top shooters in the past few years. With so much uncertainty across the world, it does not make sense to keep everyone waiting. In my opinion, it makes more sense to announce the team and protect the players, so that we ensure that they maintain their form ahead of the Olympics. DSD: Ahead of any Olympics, anyone who follows a particular sport has a certain idea about the group of players who are in the mix to win a medal, but because of the lack of preparation going into the 2021 Olympics, do you think we will see a completely different set of medalists? Suma Shirur: Yes that certainly is possible. But like I said before we will ensure that our top shooters are fully prepared for the 2021 games, and hopefully, those who we considered as medal contenders for the 2020 games will still get us medals in the 2021 games. As far as the junior shooters are concerned, this might be a blessing in disguise for them because it gives them the opportunity to work on certain aspects of their game and improve their chances of a podium finish. The challenge is to ensure that all the shooters are motivated and in the right frame of mind during the crisis. Innovation is the key to finding solutions to deal with this unprecedented situation. It's not only us Indians who are suffering, but the entire world is going through this pandemic. We hope to stay one step ahead with all the plans that we have in place.

Exclusive: 'Young team needs to be guided in right direction' - Suma Shirur opens up on preparations during lockdown, Tokyo Olympics, and more

With COVID-19 pandemic wiping off the sporting calendar, players have been restricted to train indoors in a bid to remain fit for the resumption of season, whenever it happens. Football is one of the sports to have taken a major hit financially with clubs struggling to cope up with the losses incurred due to the postponement of leagues and tournaments. Also, there has been a lot of talks surrounding some of the footballing bodies wanting to resume their respective leagues and cup competitions.&nbsp;

Ace Indian footballer and the recipient of Padma Shri, Sunil Chhetri, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world of football, the fall of transfer prices post coronavirus crisis, the idea of playing football leagues with domestic players only, life in lockdown and much more...

Digvijay Singh Deo: Sunil, I must begin by saying that it is heartening to note that all our top sports stars have not lost their sense of humour in these difficult times. Your coach at Bengaluru FC tried to pull a gag on you involving Andres Iniesta the other day and you sort of handled it very well.

Sunil Chhetri: I think being a sportsperson, you have to think on your feet, be quick and witty, so we're just trying to keep our spirits up. We're just trying to stay calm and I think it's important to be able to to enjoy the little things in life during these times. On a serious note, we need to engage and keep everyone motivated during the crisis.

DSD: How has this period been for you?&nbsp;Mentally how can you remain switched on with life indoors especially as leading an outdoor life is in your DNA as a footballer.

Sunil Chhetri:&nbsp;It&nbsp;is hard for all athletes across the world because we are used to being outdoors and training every day, that is in our DNA. But having said that, we are extremely fortunate that is not struggling for our essential services. There are so many people in India and across the world who do not have access to basic amenities. So we aren't struggling at all when you compare us to the daily wage earners or the migrant workers. Our pain and agony is nothing compared to their suffering. Yes, it is difficult to be indoors and not be able to train, but once life gets back to normal we will return to our daily routines. But at the moment there are bigger problems the world is facing. For me, I'm just trying to eat healthily and stay mentally and physically fit during the lockdown.

DSD: Lots of players across the world sharing videos and photos of their fitness sessions indoors, how are you managing to keep up the fitness levels?

Sunil Chhetri: My last game for Bengaluru FC in the Indian super league was on the 8th of February, that's when our season finished. Then on the international front, our World Cup qualifier against Qatar got postponed. I took 21 days off to recover from a hamstring problem. But it's been two weeks now that I have been working out. I do whatever is possible inside my house, these day's I've been concentrating on band workouts and cardio. Doing a lot of household work also helps to burn calories. The most important thing is to eat well, which I'm trying to do. Also, I'm not fiddling around with my sleep pattern. Sometimes what happens is when you're at home for an extended period of time, your eating and sleeping habits can get disturbed. I am observing my friends who are not athletes, they are following extremely irregular eating and sleeping patterns and binging on television shows, which is unhealthy. So I'm not trying to avoid that and not get into that vicious cycle.

DSD: There is a lot of concern now about the mental health of players, especially with anxiety and this uncertainty over when will you all get to play again hanging in the air. What role should clubs, national bodies and FIFA play in these times?

Sunil Chhetri: I think it is very important to stay calm in these times. My advice to players would be to do whatever they can to stay physically fit with the resources they have, that goes a long way in maintaining mental health. I know people are keeping busy at home, but if they can take out some time every day to work on their body, it will help maintain your sanity. We have never seen these times before, so people are finding it challenging to deal with the situation. There might be a verbal squabble at home or people might go through mood swings. We have to keep ourselves occupied or do activities that we like, that will help us stay calm.

Meditation is also something that can assist in your mental well being. As far as the national and international federations are concerned, even they are trying to gauge the gravity of the situation. The prime objective for the entire world night now is to overcome this virus. Sport will only return once life gets back to normal, only then will FIFA and the other sporting bodies have a concrete answer to the way forward after the crisis. As far as the pay cuts go, it is very said that people have to forego their hard-earned money, but you have to look at it on a case-to-case basis, so it would be unfair for me to comment on it.

<img alt="Exclusive | Sunil Chhetri in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f013b3ec-2419-454c-8382-f49ca50ec43f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1LE8KI.jpg" />

DSD: As captain of India you must be in touch with players from across clubs and leagues, how tough is it for the Indian footballing ecosystem at the moment.

Sunil Chhetri: The younger players who have just started their careers in the lower divisions are obviously going to suffer. All of us who are more fortunate have tried to donate as much as we can to the prime minister's fund. I spoke to my India team-mate Sandesh Jhingan and he told me that all of the senior players are contributing to the state funds and trying to figure out a way in which they can help those in need. I think all the top athletes in the country are financially secure, but the young ones, who haven't yet made a name for themselves might suffer if this crisis continues for a while. If anything the top athletes might find it difficult to cope with the situation mentally. For athletes like me who are more than 30 years of age, even a break of a few months can have a long term effect on your career, since the lifespan of a sportsperson is short. So that's a slight concern for me. But financially, the daily wage earners are the ones who are suffering, so the whole country should unite and help them out.

DSD: Obviously Indian football does not have the big budgets of the European leagues and the ISL season was completed and the AIFF has named Mohun Bagan as I league champions as well so what will the impact be on Indian football?

Sunil Chhetri: The Indian football calendar is definitely going to be affected. We have to wait for the nod of the Indian government to start planning the season and matches. And our sport brings everyone together, so you have 30 or 40,000 people in a stadium at one point. So the decision has to deliberated&nbsp;upon at length and various factors have to be taken into consideration. I hope we reach a situation where we can at least plan the calendar, but until then we just have to play the waiting game and be patient. All the Indian football authorities have nothing to work with at the moment in terms of schedule because the government go-ahead has not been given. Whenever we do return, I think it's going to be a herculean task to accommodate all the fixtures of the new season. The season will either need to be truncated or stretched out. The AFC and FIFA are also going to have their own continental calendars, so it will be very difficult to work our way around the congestion.

DSD: Staying with Indian football this could be a good opportunity to test national coach Igor Stimac's view that the number of foreign players should be restricted in the league. The way things stand it does look like there will be reduced budgets for sure next season.

Sunil Chhetri:&nbsp;If the case is that foreigners would not be allowed to travel to India for the foreseeable future because of the travel restrictions, then we can play more Indians in our leagues. Although I still believe that training with top-class foreign players lends to your growth as a player. But if foreigners are not allowed to enter the country, then why not give the Indian players more game time?

<img alt="Exclusive | Sunil Chhetri in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="89031642-786a-4386-b3e5-5f4db43d705a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_15M0LA.jpg" />

DSD: We have seen the Olympics cancelled, the Euros cancelled as well. Has coronavirus burst the artificial bubble of football?

Sunil Chhetri:&nbsp;It&nbsp;might take a temporary hit because the entire ecosystem of the financial world has been affected, but sooner or later that bubble will return. The bubble exists because the teams with more money will always be after the best players and will be willing to splash the cash on them. For there to be a real long term change in the way that the top clubs function, all the teams have to agree not to spend more than a particular amount on a player, which is not going to happen. So I think that there will be a massive reduction in expenditure when it comes to world football, but it will only be temporary. The football market is no different from the world market, there is natural growth over the years. In 2009, Real Madrid broke the transfer record to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in an 80 million Euro deal and in 2017 PSG broke the record again with a 200 million Euro Neymar deal. That doesn't mean that Neymar is a better footballer than Ronaldo, it is just how markets function over a period of time.

DSD: An example probably is the 140 million-plus sale of Phillipe&nbsp;Coutinho and now there is talk of Barcelona taking a 66 million Pound hit and sell him to Chelsea. Now he is a full Brazilian international and the joke here is actually on Barcelona and not an indictment of Coutinho. For too long the big clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City, Bayern, PSG have splashed out big sums to buy players from smaller teams and do you now see this astronomical fees falling?

Sunil Chhetri: I feel only the price of the players will go down, but the big clubs are still going to buy the top names. Everyone is going to lose money from their kitty, it's not as if only Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will suffer financially, so will the lesser clubs across the world. The clubs' spending power will decrease, but since every club is losing money, the big wigs will still retain their market power. It's just how business works. There will only be a level playing field if all clubs agree not to spend more than a particular amount regardless of revenue or sponsorship income, and that amount is the same for all teams in the league. Even in the NBA where they have salary caps and many rules to try to maintain a level playing field, the big teams find loopholes in the laws to retain their power. That way they are always able to attract the best players. So I think overall, the balance of power will remain the same in the world of football.

DSD: Most leagues in Europe are suspended, there is talk that the Champions League final could be played in August. How difficult will it be for clubs to get their players up to full fitness after what could end up as a two to three-month break?

Sunil Chhetri:&nbsp;It is going to be extremely difficult for players to regain their fitness in such a short span of time if that is the case. I know the players are working out at home with whatever equipment they can, but working out and training on the pitch, spending time with your team-mates is a completely different ball game. Even when the players are allowed to come out and train, they will require a certain amount of time to prepare for the season, both physically and mentally. Also, it is important for the footballers to avoid injuries, so you cannot jump into competitive matches after spending two or three months at home. The players shouldn't be forced into playing matches just because a particular competition needs to be finished in a certain span of time, it is unfair on the footballers and increases the risk of injuries.

So if the season will return in the first few weeks of August, that means players would need to be back in training by end June. At the moment, I don't see any country in Europe allowing players to be out on the pitch in June. The FIFA president also warned against starting leagues prematurely because that could lead to more people getting infected with COVID-19, which would be a massive disaster. As a football fan, I want to be optimistic about things, I want the premier league and champions league to be back. Also, the more you delay the resumption of this season, the more the 20-21 campaign gets pushed. So I don't know how the challenge is going to be dealt with. But I repeat, until we overcome this coronavirus crisis, there can be no concrete plan in place for the footballing calendar.

DSD: A&nbsp;British medical expert has recommended that players must wear masks during training as well as matches once football resumes. Is it even possible or comfortable and not restrictive?

Sunil Chhetri: It doesn't look impossible, but I haven't tried it so I cannot say for certain. But if the worry is that the infection will be passed on to the other player on the pitch, then we have to be cautious about other aspects of a match as well. We spend so much time with players in the dressing rooms, use the same washrooms, hotels and have meals together. So all these things have to be looked at before we resume matches. Also in a sporting environment, if any person has it, the chances of the disease spreading quickly are very high, especially because football is a contact sport.

DSD: Already it is being estimated that the financial loss to the big leagues in Europe will be close to 4 billion Euros if seasons do not resume as sponsorship money, tv rights all etc then fall off the cliff.belgium has called off, Dutch league is about to be called off. It is a tightrope isn’t it, money or health?

Sunil Chhetri:&nbsp;We have to prioritise our health, that is the simple answer. Every well-meaning individual will do that. I 'm not sure how much money the leagues will lose over the course of the time, but whatever the amount is can be recovered. But if we are irresponsible or complacent of resuming action earlier than required and people's health is affected because of that, it will be a catastrophe. I'm sure we stand to lose massive amounts of money over the course of the next few months, but if we remain healthy we still stand a chance of recovering that amount in the next few years. Health must be the priority.

<img alt="Exclusive | Sunil Chhetri in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5eb0ef28-72eb-41d3-9fcc-4fa222fc93c9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_VX0G8.jpg" />

DSD: Should football resume behind closed doors as is being predicted? We&nbsp;had the ISL final being played behind closed doors.

Sunil Chhetri: when a top-level team trains, there are about 50-60 people at the ground at a particular time. If the season resumes behind closed doors, we will still have to train every day and go about our preparation as we normally do. That would require a large number of people to come in contact every day and constant monitoring will need to take place, those 50 or 60 people will also go back their families at home and the risk of spreading the virus is still present. Just because there are 30,000 or 40,000 people in a stadium, we think we will be safer in relative terms if we have matches behind closed doors. But the fact is that even if the season resumes, there will be a constant threat to the people involved in the matches, and that is not just the players and coaches. I think it will be better if we wait for the whole crisis to subside and then make a decision because we don't want to put lives at risk. In the best-case scenario, everything will get back to normal and fans will be able to watch us play.

DSD: For you, what are the lessons that we should all take on-board from this period of great strife?

Sunil Chhetri: I think we have to be more compassionate towards other people, especially people like us who are so privileged, we must also consider the need of others. We are all so consumed in the chase for material things, that every decision we make is a selfish one. We have to give back more because there are people who are struggling for their next meal. I have realised that I am in a privileged position because of the hard work of so many people around me. So I have realised that I can easily help those around me more. I feel it is unfair that I am so comfortable and there are people who do not know where their next meal will come from. I feel it's not right. I'm not trying to preach, I'm just speaking from a personal point of view. I have realised that I could have made more of a contribution in the last ten years. I was helping people, but maybe I was doing that just give myself satisfaction. But now I will strive to make more of a contribution in making the lives of others around me better. That is one thing I hope stays with me from this COVID-19 crisis.

With COVID-19 pandemic wiping off the sporting calendar, players have been restricted to train indoors in a bid to remain fit for the resumption of season, whenever it happens.

With COVID-19 pandemic wiping off the sporting calendar, players have been restricted to train indoors in a bid to remain fit for the resumption of season, whenever it happens. Football is one of the sports to have taken a major hit financially with clubs struggling to cope up with the losses incurred due to the postponement of leagues and tournaments. Also, there has been a lot of talks surrounding some of the footballing bodies wanting to resume their respective leagues and cup competitions. Ace Indian footballer and the recipient of Padma Shri, Sunil Chhetri, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world of football, the fall of transfer prices post coronavirus crisis, the idea of playing football leagues with domestic players only, life in lockdown and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Sunil, I must begin by saying that it is heartening to note that all our top sports stars have not lost their sense of humour in these difficult times. Your coach at Bengaluru FC tried to pull a gag on you involving Andres Iniesta the other day and you sort of handled it very well. Sunil Chhetri: I think being a sportsperson, you have to think on your feet, be quick and witty, so we're just trying to keep our spirits up. We're just trying to stay calm and I think it's important to be able to to enjoy the little things in life during these times. On a serious note, we need to engage and keep everyone motivated during the crisis. DSD: How has this period been for you? Mentally how can you remain switched on with life indoors especially as leading an outdoor life is in your DNA as a footballer. Sunil Chhetri: It is hard for all athletes across the world because we are used to being outdoors and training every day, that is in our DNA. But having said that, we are extremely fortunate that is not struggling for our essential services. There are so many people in India and across the world who do not have access to basic amenities. So we aren't struggling at all when you compare us to the daily wage earners or the migrant workers. Our pain and agony is nothing compared to their suffering. Yes, it is difficult to be indoors and not be able to train, but once life gets back to normal we will return to our daily routines. But at the moment there are bigger problems the world is facing. For me, I'm just trying to eat healthily and stay mentally and physically fit during the lockdown. DSD: Lots of players across the world sharing videos and photos of their fitness sessions indoors, how are you managing to keep up the fitness levels? Sunil Chhetri: My last game for Bengaluru FC in the Indian super league was on the 8th of February, that's when our season finished. Then on the international front, our World Cup qualifier against Qatar got postponed. I took 21 days off to recover from a hamstring problem. But it's been two weeks now that I have been working out. I do whatever is possible inside my house, these day's I've been concentrating on band workouts and cardio. Doing a lot of household work also helps to burn calories. The most important thing is to eat well, which I'm trying to do. Also, I'm not fiddling around with my sleep pattern. Sometimes what happens is when you're at home for an extended period of time, your eating and sleeping habits can get disturbed. I am observing my friends who are not athletes, they are following extremely irregular eating and sleeping patterns and binging on television shows, which is unhealthy. So I'm not trying to avoid that and not get into that vicious cycle. DSD: There is a lot of concern now about the mental health of players, especially with anxiety and this uncertainty over when will you all get to play again hanging in the air. What role should clubs, national bodies and FIFA play in these times? Sunil Chhetri: I think it is very important to stay calm in these times. My advice to players would be to do whatever they can to stay physically fit with the resources they have, that goes a long way in maintaining mental health. I know people are keeping busy at home, but if they can take out some time every day to work on their body, it will help maintain your sanity. We have never seen these times before, so people are finding it challenging to deal with the situation. There might be a verbal squabble at home or people might go through mood swings. We have to keep ourselves occupied or do activities that we like, that will help us stay calm. Meditation is also something that can assist in your mental well being. As far as the national and international federations are concerned, even they are trying to gauge the gravity of the situation. The prime objective for the entire world night now is to overcome this virus. Sport will only return once life gets back to normal, only then will FIFA and the other sporting bodies have a concrete answer to the way forward after the crisis. As far as the pay cuts go, it is very said that people have to forego their hard-earned money, but you have to look at it on a case-to-case basis, so it would be unfair for me to comment on it. DSD: As captain of India you must be in touch with players from across clubs and leagues, how tough is it for the Indian footballing ecosystem at the moment. Sunil Chhetri: The younger players who have just started their careers in the lower divisions are obviously going to suffer. All of us who are more fortunate have tried to donate as much as we can to the prime minister's fund. I spoke to my India team-mate Sandesh Jhingan and he told me that all of the senior players are contributing to the state funds and trying to figure out a way in which they can help those in need. I think all the top athletes in the country are financially secure, but the young ones, who haven't yet made a name for themselves might suffer if this crisis continues for a while. If anything the top athletes might find it difficult to cope with the situation mentally. For athletes like me who are more than 30 years of age, even a break of a few months can have a long term effect on your career, since the lifespan of a sportsperson is short. So that's a slight concern for me. But financially, the daily wage earners are the ones who are suffering, so the whole country should unite and help them out. DSD: Obviously Indian football does not have the big budgets of the European leagues and the ISL season was completed and the AIFF has named Mohun Bagan as I league champions as well so what will the impact be on Indian football? Sunil Chhetri: The Indian football calendar is definitely going to be affected. We have to wait for the nod of the Indian government to start planning the season and matches. And our sport brings everyone together, so you have 30 or 40,000 people in a stadium at one point. So the decision has to deliberated upon at length and various factors have to be taken into consideration. I hope we reach a situation where we can at least plan the calendar, but until then we just have to play the waiting game and be patient. All the Indian football authorities have nothing to work with at the moment in terms of schedule because the government go-ahead has not been given. Whenever we do return, I think it's going to be a herculean task to accommodate all the fixtures of the new season. The season will either need to be truncated or stretched out. The AFC and FIFA are also going to have their own continental calendars, so it will be very difficult to work our way around the congestion. DSD: Staying with Indian football this could be a good opportunity to test national coach Igor Stimac's view that the number of foreign players should be restricted in the league. The way things stand it does look like there will be reduced budgets for sure next season. Sunil Chhetri: If the case is that foreigners would not be allowed to travel to India for the foreseeable future because of the travel restrictions, then we can play more Indians in our leagues. Although I still believe that training with top-class foreign players lends to your growth as a player. But if foreigners are not allowed to enter the country, then why not give the Indian players more game time? DSD: We have seen the Olympics cancelled, the Euros cancelled as well. Has coronavirus burst the artificial bubble of football? Sunil Chhetri: It might take a temporary hit because the entire ecosystem of the financial world has been affected, but sooner or later that bubble will return. The bubble exists because the teams with more money will always be after the best players and will be willing to splash the cash on them. For there to be a real long term change in the way that the top clubs function, all the teams have to agree not to spend more than a particular amount on a player, which is not going to happen. So I think that there will be a massive reduction in expenditure when it comes to world football, but it will only be temporary. The football market is no different from the world market, there is natural growth over the years. In 2009, Real Madrid broke the transfer record to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in an 80 million Euro deal and in 2017 PSG broke the record again with a 200 million Euro Neymar deal. That doesn't mean that Neymar is a better footballer than Ronaldo, it is just how markets function over a period of time. DSD: An example probably is the 140 million-plus sale of Phillipe Coutinho and now there is talk of Barcelona taking a 66 million Pound hit and sell him to Chelsea. Now he is a full Brazilian international and the joke here is actually on Barcelona and not an indictment of Coutinho. For too long the big clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City, Bayern, PSG have splashed out big sums to buy players from smaller teams and do you now see this astronomical fees falling? Sunil Chhetri: I feel only the price of the players will go down, but the big clubs are still going to buy the top names. Everyone is going to lose money from their kitty, it's not as if only Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will suffer financially, so will the lesser clubs across the world. The clubs' spending power will decrease, but since every club is losing money, the big wigs will still retain their market power. It's just how business works. There will only be a level playing field if all clubs agree not to spend more than a particular amount regardless of revenue or sponsorship income, and that amount is the same for all teams in the league. Even in the NBA where they have salary caps and many rules to try to maintain a level playing field, the big teams find loopholes in the laws to retain their power. That way they are always able to attract the best players. So I think overall, the balance of power will remain the same in the world of football. DSD: Most leagues in Europe are suspended, there is talk that the Champions League final could be played in August. How difficult will it be for clubs to get their players up to full fitness after what could end up as a two to three-month break? Sunil Chhetri: It is going to be extremely difficult for players to regain their fitness in such a short span of time if that is the case. I know the players are working out at home with whatever equipment they can, but working out and training on the pitch, spending time with your team-mates is a completely different ball game. Even when the players are allowed to come out and train, they will require a certain amount of time to prepare for the season, both physically and mentally. Also, it is important for the footballers to avoid injuries, so you cannot jump into competitive matches after spending two or three months at home. The players shouldn't be forced into playing matches just because a particular competition needs to be finished in a certain span of time, it is unfair on the footballers and increases the risk of injuries. So if the season will return in the first few weeks of August, that means players would need to be back in training by end June. At the moment, I don't see any country in Europe allowing players to be out on the pitch in June. The FIFA president also warned against starting leagues prematurely because that could lead to more people getting infected with COVID-19, which would be a massive disaster. As a football fan, I want to be optimistic about things, I want the premier league and champions league to be back. Also, the more you delay the resumption of this season, the more the 20-21 campaign gets pushed. So I don't know how the challenge is going to be dealt with. But I repeat, until we overcome this coronavirus crisis, there can be no concrete plan in place for the footballing calendar. DSD: A British medical expert has recommended that players must wear masks during training as well as matches once football resumes. Is it even possible or comfortable and not restrictive? Sunil Chhetri: It doesn't look impossible, but I haven't tried it so I cannot say for certain. But if the worry is that the infection will be passed on to the other player on the pitch, then we have to be cautious about other aspects of a match as well. We spend so much time with players in the dressing rooms, use the same washrooms, hotels and have meals together. So all these things have to be looked at before we resume matches. Also in a sporting environment, if any person has it, the chances of the disease spreading quickly are very high, especially because football is a contact sport. DSD: Already it is being estimated that the financial loss to the big leagues in Europe will be close to 4 billion Euros if seasons do not resume as sponsorship money, tv rights all etc then fall off the cliff.belgium has called off, Dutch league is about to be called off. It is a tightrope isn’t it, money or health? Sunil Chhetri: We have to prioritise our health, that is the simple answer. Every well-meaning individual will do that. I 'm not sure how much money the leagues will lose over the course of the time, but whatever the amount is can be recovered. But if we are irresponsible or complacent of resuming action earlier than required and people's health is affected because of that, it will be a catastrophe. I'm sure we stand to lose massive amounts of money over the course of the next few months, but if we remain healthy we still stand a chance of recovering that amount in the next few years. Health must be the priority. DSD: Should football resume behind closed doors as is being predicted? We had the ISL final being played behind closed doors. Sunil Chhetri: when a top-level team trains, there are about 50-60 people at the ground at a particular time. If the season resumes behind closed doors, we will still have to train every day and go about our preparation as we normally do. That would require a large number of people to come in contact every day and constant monitoring will need to take place, those 50 or 60 people will also go back their families at home and the risk of spreading the virus is still present. Just because there are 30,000 or 40,000 people in a stadium, we think we will be safer in relative terms if we have matches behind closed doors. But the fact is that even if the season resumes, there will be a constant threat to the people involved in the matches, and that is not just the players and coaches. I think it will be better if we wait for the whole crisis to subside and then make a decision because we don't want to put lives at risk. In the best-case scenario, everything will get back to normal and fans will be able to watch us play. DSD: For you, what are the lessons that we should all take on-board from this period of great strife? Sunil Chhetri: I think we have to be more compassionate towards other people, especially people like us who are so privileged, we must also consider the need of others. We are all so consumed in the chase for material things, that every decision we make is a selfish one. We have to give back more because there are people who are struggling for their next meal. I have realised that I am in a privileged position because of the hard work of so many people around me. So I have realised that I can easily help those around me more. I feel it is unfair that I am so comfortable and there are people who do not know where their next meal will come from. I feel it's not right. I'm not trying to preach, I'm just speaking from a personal point of view. I have realised that I could have made more of a contribution in the last ten years. I was helping people, but maybe I was doing that just give myself satisfaction. But now I will strive to make more of a contribution in making the lives of others around me better. That is one thing I hope stays with me from this COVID-19 crisis.

Exclusive: 'Better to wait for whole crisis to subside' - Sunil Chhetri opens up on resumption of sports, football post COVID-19, and much more

Following India's phenomenal run in the recently concluded ICC Women's T20 World Cup, women's cricket was looking at an unprecedented rise in popularity and craze.

Following India's phenomenal run in the recently concluded ICC Women's T20 World Cup, women's cricket was looking at an unprecedented rise in popularity and craze. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures have wiped out the entire sporting calendar. Sportspersons have been restricted to train indoors in a bid to keep themselves fit with absolutely no live sporting action happening, at the moment. Ace Indian batswoman, Smriti Mandhana, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on her love for batting, life in lockdown, rapport with Jemimah Rodrigues, bucket list as Red Bull athlete, experience in Women's T20 World Cup and more. × Digvijay Singh Deo: Smriti, welcome to the show. I must start by asking you about the campaign I saw a few days ago the Team Mask Force. That campaign also had the who’s who of Indian cricket with Sachin, Sourav, Rahul joining the current team. It is also an indication of how much the stock of the Women’s team has risen in recent years to find you, Mithali and Harmanpreet there. Five years back this wasn’t possible. Smriti: Yes, there has been a massive growth in women's cricket in the country, especially after the 2017 ODI World Cup. Regarding the campaign, I think it is necessary to motivate the citizens to do something to wear a mask in the current climate. I'm delighted to be part of such an initiative undertaken by the government. I had no idea that legends of the game, like Sachin Tendulkar, would be a part of the campaign. So it's special to be involved in something like this. Five years ago, we probably wouldn't have been able to share any stage with our male counterparts, but it just shows how much the game has grown in India. Members of our team are recognizable faces and I think women's cricket in India is going through a good phase. DSD: So talking of mask warriors how has this last one month been for you. What has the schedule been like? I did read that you are playing online Ludo with your teammates. Smriti: After the T20 World Cup in March, we were supposed to take a two-week break after a long season, it was a very busy schedule in the previous six months. But who would have thought that the two-week break would extend into a full-fledged lockdown for months. I think now since we have been at home for a while, all of us have found different ways of entertaining ourselves. Ludo is something we enjoy playing because we can also talk to each other while the game is on. So it's also a good way to keep in touch with each other. But the last ten days, Jemimah Rodrigues and I have been doing a show called 'double trouble', so that has kept me busy and it feels good to be finally doing something constructive during the lockdown. I was getting bored sitting at home and not being able to do much. DSD: You share a great rapport with Jemima Rodrigues. Like you, she is another young prodigy who is finding her feet at the top level. What sort of camaraderie do you share and tell me a bit more about this show? Smriti: Jemimah and I share a great bond. We didn't know each other before Jemimah came into the team about two years back, but we were roommates for the first 4 or 5 months and we really hit it off. We share a lot of memories, both on and off the pitch. So one day we were just reminiscing about the times we have spent together and thought it would be a good idea to make a fun show. I don't think we've had a show like this where active athletes discuss things in a candid manner. Since we keep troubling each other, we thought it would be apt to call the show 'double trouble'. DSD: Through this lockdown period we have seen the greats of modern-day sport come up with challenges for their fans, be it Roger Federer or the 100-volley challenge by Andy Murray and Kim Sears. How important is it for you to engage with fans in these times? Smriti: Yes, fans usually are only able to see one side of us athletes. But if we interact and engage with them through social media, they will be able to get a glimpse of how we spend time off the field. So hopefully with the show, we can entertain the fans with our stories and anecdotes than viewers can relate to. We will have fellow athletes as guests as well, so it should be something that everyone will enjoy. View this post on Instagram Was just practicing social distancing P.S: Waise aur option bhi kya hai A post shared by Smriti Mandhana (@smriti_mandhana) on Apr 7, 2020 at 4:36am PDT × DSD: Now you are a Red Bull athlete as well. One of the hallmarks of a Red Bull athlete is to constantly challenge the odds...So does Smriti Mandhana have a bucket list, cliff diving, jumping out of a plane, perhaps even off-roading. Smriti: Unfortunately in our BCCI contracts, we have a clause which does not allow us to take part in any extreme sport. But there is a lot of work that red bull does with formula one. I would love to be part of any F1 event since I love motorsport. Red bull has a state of the art performance centre and so many top athletes across sports are associated with them. So even if I just get the opportunity to interact with any of the sportspersons, it would be a great learning experience for me. Till I'm playing cricket for India, I'm not sure if I'll be able to skydive from a plane. View this post on Instagram Happiness is contagious#goodvibes A post shared by Smriti Mandhana (@smriti_mandhana) on Feb 8, 2020 at 4:09am PST × DSD: I love the way you go about your cricket, you play fearlessly if the ball is there to be hit you hit it. Describe your mental approach to an innings. Smriti: I like to keep things very simple. In the past when I've tried to overthink my strategy, it has never worked. So an over-analytical approach for the game has never helped me perform well. I treat every delivery with the merit it deserves and has enough confidence in my ability to deal with the challenge. The mental preparation for me is just to keep my eyes on the ball and play accordingly, that is when I feel best about my batting. If the day comes when I feel that this approach is not paying dividends, then I will tweak my preparation, but at the moment I am comfortable with my process and don't want to unnecessarily overthink it. If the ball is in the slot and meant to be hit, then I strike it. It's as simple as that. DSD: The dramatic explosion of the coronavirus sort of made us forget the T20 World Cup very fast. Have you managed to overcome the hurt of falling at the final hurdle? Smriti: The final loss really hurt us a lot as a team. Especially because it was a huge match and we lost the chance of picking up a trophy. But now I have tried to move on from that defeat. I have to look at it from the perspective of a learning experience. Over the last few years, we have lost a few big matches, including the 2017 world cup final. But you cannot dwell on the past, I must look towards the future in figure out ways in which I can improve and help the team. So my goal is to improve aspects of my game and be ready for the next tournament. DSD: What does a loss like this teach a team, the good teams always rebound from tough defeats. Pankaj Advani our 23-time World Champion said something very pertinent to me some time back that sport gives you second chances, life as we are seeing right now does not. Smriti: Failure is a better teacher than success. You can learn more from a bad patch of form than a big score. After the final, none of us spoke much to each other, all of us were dealing with the disappointment in our own space. As a team, the defeat especially hurt because we weren't able to put up a fight. So hopefully we can learn from the match, and go one better in a world cup final next time. DSD: What we are seeing with the women’s team though is the emergence of a young bunch of players who hopefully will be together for a long time. Is that the missing piece of the jigsaw Smriti; the nucleus is there, we just have to be patient. Smriti: Our average age is just 23 and that is something to be proud of. I think we were one of the youngest teams in the tournament and our performances throughout the campaign, barring the final, were excellent. I think if these teams sticks together for the next 3-4 years, the sky is the limit for us. The talent is definitely present and if we are able to work hard and learn from our mistakes, then we will undoubtedly win major tournaments. DSD: Now one thing a lot of us were looking forward to was the Women’s T20 Challenge on the sidelines of the IPL. Sadly, the IPL has been indefinitely postponed but this must have been fun of playing a televised tournament alongside the IPL. Smriti: We had a two-team challenge tournament in 2018, and last year it increased to three teams. The final last year in Jaipur drew a packed crowd, so the game is moving the right direction. This year I was really excited because the tournament was supposed to be a four-team affair, but unfortunately, it can't take place. I think we are not yet ready for an eight-team Women's IPL, but there is potential for a 4-6 team to participate in an event. I'm confident that whenever we reach that stage of hosting a Women's IPL, it is going to be a huge push for women's cricket in India. It will also help our team to prepare for big events like the world cup. I'm sure the BCCI has a long term plan in mind for the Women's IPL and they won't be rushed into a decision. View this post on Instagram After batting for 5 hours wondering when will I get to bat next . . Thanks for the trendy helmet @redbullindia ;) A post shared by Smriti Mandhana (@smriti_mandhana) on Jun 17, 2019 at 8:40pm PDT × DSD: What has been the most important cricketing advice that was given to you by someone you look up to. Smriti: After the 2017 ODI World Cup, I had a bad run of 17 matches where I didn't score big runs. I was obviously worried about my form and was a bit hassled. At that time, my parents reminded me of the time when I used to play cricket purely for the joy of the game when I was a kid. They told me to think about that time and try to ignore all the external pressures of being an international cricketer. I think enjoying the game is very important and I have tried to do that over the past few years, regardless of my performance. That piece of advice has taken a bit of the burden of my shoulders and given me a bit more freedom. There was a time I could not walk for three months because of an injury, so I cherish the fact that I am able to play cricket for a living. DSD: I want to end this interview on an optimistic note so what is the one thing you want to do when this lockdown ends? Smriti: Batting. It is something that gives me a lot of joy. It's just not a sport for me, it is what I live for. The feeling I get when I strike a ball sweetly is like no other. Nothing else can give me the feeling of holding the bat and walking out to play. So that's the first thing I would like to do once this crisis dies down. But I realise the gravity of the prevailing situation and I hope we can overcome this pandemic as soon as possible.

Exclusive: 'Cricket is just not a sport for me, it is what I live for' - Smriti Mandhana opens up on her love for the game, rapport with Jemimah and much more

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only led to the clean-sweep of the entire sporting calendar but the dreaded virus has also forced the athletes to train indoors with almost the entire world currently under lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. Sportspersons, who are usually on the road amid their extremely hectic schedules, are taking this phase to reflect on their respective careers, life, training regimes, etc.&nbsp;

Indian badminton player and a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, Ashwini Ponnappa, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown, indoor training routine, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, special bonding with Sikki Reddy, and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: I did tell Ashwini that I was extremely envious of her for managing to keep up a punishing fitness regime all through this lockdown and I must commend you for finding a way.

Ashwini: I think badminton players can work on some aspects of their game even when they are at home, this could be wall practice or racket shadowing. I have a small apartment, but you don't need much space to work on some aspects of your game. Fortunately, my husband can also play a little bit, so I play with him sometimes. But otherwise, I'm just trying to not lose touch with the sport.

DSD:&nbsp;Is it frustrating, being in lockdown? Because you've been stuck since returning from all the All England Championships in early March?

Ashwini:&nbsp;To be honest, when we went to Birmingham for the tournament, at that time we weren't really sure about the situation. A few players from India had dropped out because of the health concerns. But a lot of the other top players were there, so that made us wonder if the threat of the COVID-19 virus was really that dangerous. But by the time of the tournament, a few countries in Europe had started nationwide lockdowns, so the situation was escalating. After All England, we were scheduled to play one more tournament in Switzerland, but after a discussion with our coach Pullela Gopichand, we decided it was best to not play and get back to India as soon as possible. Luckily, the badminton association of India were really helpful and we were able to reach India just a few days before the travel restrictions were imposed.

DSD: In hindsight did you make the right call to go to All England despite the pandemic raging by then?

Ashwini: I think if we had known the gravity of the situation at the time, then we would have definitely wanted the All England tournament to be called off. But there was no way to predict back then how quickly things would escalate. So at the time, I think the players took the right call to go to the event because as I said before, all the other top shuttlers were there as well. It is also hard to voluntarily skip a tournament if the badminton world federation is going ahead with it. But I'm glad that the BWF took the right call to suspend all subsequent tournaments because it would have been impossible for players to compete in the current climate.

DSD: I must say your Twitter feed makes for some excellent reading. How many pets do you have at home?

Ashwini: The two dogs that we currently have at home- Jazz and Lola - are actually my in-laws' pets. But as soon as my husband found out that I'm returning home, he got the dogs to the house and I'm delighted he did that. They are so lively and have been a breath of fresh air in our lives. They fill our house with energy and just instil so much positivity into us. We are also showered with love from our two dogs. So overall being locked in with them is a lot of fun.

DSD: It is nice to see the other, lighter side of the badminton players during the lockdown because usually all of you wouldn't get to spend so much time at home...

Ashwini: Yes, that's true. I'm travelling so often that I hardly get so spend time at my house in Bengaluru. And when I'm in Hyderabad, my life revolves around my training, I spend most of the day on the court. But now. During the lockdown we are living a fantasy life of sorts, my husband and I are able to spend quality time with our dogs, which wouldn't be possible if we weren't in lockdown.

<img alt="Exclusive | Ashwini Ponappa in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e138b5d-90ed-4b64-ae7b-f6913affb8a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1496302174-ashwini-ponnappa-517-fb.jpg" />

DSD: You have raised your voice against the treatment of animals in the past and now the roles have reversed Ashwini...lots of videos of animals freely roaming around and all of us are locked up.

Ashwini: It's so strange to see these things. But I feel like nature has a way of balancing itself out and I believe everything happens for a reason. It must be the first time in years that the animals have the freedom to walk around in towns and cities. It's quite an eye-opener, but also nice to see all the positive content while we're locked down because it is important to keep our spirits up.

DSD: You have previously raised your voice against animals being caged, now the roles have reversed during the lockdown, and awe are the ones who are unable to move freely...

Ashwini: It's quite ironic how things have changed. It's also a bit weird because it's not just our country, the entire world is suffering.hopefully after this crisis is over, people will be more understanding towards the plight of the animals. I have a feeling people's outlook towards a lot of things will change after this ordeal.

DSD: What for you has been the biggest piece of learning in these last 30 days or so.earlier before your marriage you used to stay alone in Hyderabad when training at national camp so you know how to manage on your own...

Ashwini: It's actually a welcome break for me, I have travelled a lot over the past few years. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have had to represent my country, but sometimes you do feel like pressing the pause button. This forced lockdown has been a welcome break for me. I can sit back, relax and also have more control over my life. Nothing is pushing me at the moment and I can do things on my own terms. Sometimes when you're travelling and playing, life gets a bit monotonous and at times you're just going through the motions every day. So I feel like it's important to take a step back and realise why you started playing the sport in the first place, why you fell in love with the game. I like the fact that I am in charge of my routine. Whatever training I do, is purely because I want to do it. Sometimes when you're on tour, you lose track of why you do certain things because of the busy schedule.

<img alt="Exclusive | Ashwini Ponappa in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3d5007f7-d5ca-4140-9dcc-54c9a99200f0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ashwini-Ponappa-696x364.jpg" />

DSD: I was browsing through your Twitter feed and a lovely piece of skill was the home practice even as your husband in the background carried on with the TV viewing.

Ashwini: I think he was doing some work on his laptop at that point in time. When I'm doing my training, he'll usually do his work, both of us are making the best use of this time. I'm trying to unwind and relax, take a step back to reflect on things and add more purpose to my actions. Meanwhile, my husband reads a lot, he does research based on his assignments. So while he was doing his work, I continued to do my wall practice.

DSD: How essential it is to keep the skills sharp during this period because there is bound to be a period of rustiness when sport resumes at some point?

Ashwini: I think it's essential to be in touch with your skills. Anything you can do to work on your game will go a long way in helping you regain your touch when you're back on the court. So any training is better than no training. Wall practice improves my defence, which is very important for a doubles player. I use a hex ball for my wall practice and the good thing about that is I can also work on different strokes. The apartment that I live in right now is pretty small, so it becomes difficult to practice with a shuttle. My two dogs also love the shuttle, so it is tough to use it. But with the hex ball, I can practice a wide array of shots and you can do it at a slower pace when compared to the shuttle, which comes back faster. So I'm glad I bought the hex ball a while back and I'm putting it to good use now.

DSD: How are you and Sikki Reddy staying in touch?&nbsp;As doubles partners do you also usually spend time together to build up that understanding on-court?

Ashwini: We stay together when we're on tour and even go out for meals when we can. Before Sikki got married we used to live together as well, so we have spent a lot of time together and do have a special bond. But when we come back home, it is much more family-centric. We try to spend as much time with our respective families as possible because we are travelling so much throughout the year. Right now we're just keeping in touch through social media posts, if Sikki posts an interesting video, I comment on it and otherwise we talk about shows that we're watching.

DSD: What are you watching these days?

Ashwini: You'll be shocked to know that I have started watching Korean shows, I've really gotten into Korean drama shows and Sikki enjoys watching them too.

<img alt="Exclusive | Ashwini Ponappa in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32ff85ee-7d74-4d7b-9983-1d27d424002e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ponnappa-sikki-reddy-badminton-pti.jpg" />

DSD: How essential is it to have belief in a partnership after an underwhelming year? The results in 2019 weren’t very good and you had a lot of run in’s with top seeds very early on.

Ashwini: It&nbsp;is tough maintaining that belief, but if you see the matches that we lost last year in the first rounds, they were mostly against top five or top ten pairs. And they were all good contests, so that has only motivated us more to work harder and improve our performances. It is disappointing because we were in positions where we had our opponents on the ropes but weren't able to finish the job off. I was also struggling with a knee injury last year which also made it difficult to perform at the highest level. But it still gives us the satisfaction that we were competitive in most watches we played in. Sikki and I have been supportive of each other and hopefully, this year will bring much better results.

DSD: Someone like you who has won the big medals, obviously wants to keep herself motivated to perform at the highest level, is that why I saw a picture of notes being taken of matches...are you doing a post-mortem of what has been going wrong?

Ashwini: Absolutely, I feel like I've been working really hard and training a lot. So there's nothing lacking on those fronts. But there's obviously something that's missing from our performances. So as players I feel it is my responsibility to figure out why things aren't working out. Since we don't have video analysts of our own, I've been watching tapes of our matches and trying to observe if there is any pattern to our matches.so I've been trying to figure out a way of breaking everything down and making it easier for me to understand.

DSD: You were part of the Indian team for the last two Olympics. This time do you think the postponement of Tokyo Games is going to work out in your favour?

Ashwini: I'm not sure if that will be the case. This year initially, we still had a couple of months left for the Olympic qualification period for the 2020 games. No one really knows when things are going to resume and get back on track. I think it will only be fair if next year we are given that period again by the BWF to get out Olympic spots. But then again no one really knows how long the wait is going to be for the next tournament. We just have to play the waiting game at the moment.

DSD: As things stand, we have 15 months for the Olympics.what in your opinion should the qualifying criteria be.should it be a fresh start or should they just play the tournaments that were lost due to the suspension.

Ashwini: I think we should just play the tournaments that were lost because of the coronavirus pandemic because there was a lot of work put in by shuttlers for that one year of the qualification period that did take place. I think it would be unfair to start the process again even though it might be an advantage to some of us. The BWF, in my opinion, should just schedule the tournaments that were lost and I don't think there would be any complaints from the players. But like I said before, we do not know when the action will return.

DSD: You weren't that far behind in terms of the ranking cut off for the Olympics, you were 4000- 5000 points behind, that can be made up with a few quarter-finals runs in tournaments, so do you think if the qualification period starts again on 1st March 2021 and goes on till 30th April 2021, you will be able to get a good shot at qualification?

Ashwini: Yes, it would only be fair that we get that chance. I'm also confident that we will be able to achieve that because the last couple of Olympics we have been in similar scenarios and somehow managed to sneak our way with strong performances in the final few tournaments. So I think we still have a good chance of making the games even though we didn't have a good start. In the ideal situation, we would be in a much more comfortable situation, but I believe in fighting until the end because anything can happen in the last few months leading up to the games.

<img alt="Exclusive | Ashwini Ponappa in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1c7b18ff-b322-4cfe-af75-2de6ef18078c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ashwiniponappa-1574508427.jpg" />

DSD: There has been a lot of criticism of the BWF for the way they handled the pandemic. Has this period also exposed the leadership, in your sport?

Ashwini: I think they were a little late in the decisions they took, they could have definitely taken a stand for the players a bit earlier. Many of us players voiced our concerns, a lot of us continued to play in tournaments even though we were scared of the outbreak of the disease. If the BWF is holding tournaments, you feel as if it is your duty to participate in the events. But I'm glad that BWF eventually heard our voices and took a call to suspend the tournaments. It's never too late and luckily they made the announcement in just the nick of time before the situation got out of control. So, the BWF might not have taken a decision as early as other world federations, but I'm happy that eventually the right call was made.

DSD: How much are you in touch with the rest of the badminton circuit right now?&nbsp;Whatsapp, Skype, Google Hangouts or is this a welcome pause and just life on your own terms?

Ashwini: I think because of social media, we do not actually have to constantly be in touch with everyone to know what they're doing. A lot of players have been putting up motivational videos. You get an idea into how each athlete is trying to keep fit during these tough times, which is helpful. So in a way, all of us have been aiding each other through this crisis. Even a funny or light post can encourage you to become more active.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only led to the clean-sweep of the entire sporting calendar but the dreaded virus has also forced the athletes to train indoors with almost the entire world currently under lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only led to the clean-sweep of the entire sporting calendar but the dreaded virus has also forced the athletes to train indoors with almost the entire world currently under lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. Sportspersons, who are usually on the road amid their extremely hectic schedules, are taking this phase to reflect on their respective careers, life, training regimes, etc. Indian badminton player and a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, Ashwini Ponnappa, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from life in lockdown, indoor training routine, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, special bonding with Sikki Reddy, and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: I did tell Ashwini that I was extremely envious of her for managing to keep up a punishing fitness regime all through this lockdown and I must commend you for finding a way. Ashwini: I think badminton players can work on some aspects of their game even when they are at home, this could be wall practice or racket shadowing. I have a small apartment, but you don't need much space to work on some aspects of your game. Fortunately, my husband can also play a little bit, so I play with him sometimes. But otherwise, I'm just trying to not lose touch with the sport. DSD: Is it frustrating, being in lockdown? Because you've been stuck since returning from all the All England Championships in early March? Ashwini: To be honest, when we went to Birmingham for the tournament, at that time we weren't really sure about the situation. A few players from India had dropped out because of the health concerns. But a lot of the other top players were there, so that made us wonder if the threat of the COVID-19 virus was really that dangerous. But by the time of the tournament, a few countries in Europe had started nationwide lockdowns, so the situation was escalating. After All England, we were scheduled to play one more tournament in Switzerland, but after a discussion with our coach Pullela Gopichand, we decided it was best to not play and get back to India as soon as possible. Luckily, the badminton association of India were really helpful and we were able to reach India just a few days before the travel restrictions were imposed. DSD: In hindsight did you make the right call to go to All England despite the pandemic raging by then? Ashwini: I think if we had known the gravity of the situation at the time, then we would have definitely wanted the All England tournament to be called off. But there was no way to predict back then how quickly things would escalate. So at the time, I think the players took the right call to go to the event because as I said before, all the other top shuttlers were there as well. It is also hard to voluntarily skip a tournament if the badminton world federation is going ahead with it. But I'm glad that the BWF took the right call to suspend all subsequent tournaments because it would have been impossible for players to compete in the current climate. DSD: I must say your Twitter feed makes for some excellent reading. How many pets do you have at home? Ashwini: The two dogs that we currently have at home- Jazz and Lola - are actually my in-laws' pets. But as soon as my husband found out that I'm returning home, he got the dogs to the house and I'm delighted he did that. They are so lively and have been a breath of fresh air in our lives. They fill our house with energy and just instil so much positivity into us. We are also showered with love from our two dogs. So overall being locked in with them is a lot of fun. DSD: It is nice to see the other, lighter side of the badminton players during the lockdown because usually all of you wouldn't get to spend so much time at home... Ashwini: Yes, that's true. I'm travelling so often that I hardly get so spend time at my house in Bengaluru. And when I'm in Hyderabad, my life revolves around my training, I spend most of the day on the court. But now. During the lockdown we are living a fantasy life of sorts, my husband and I are able to spend quality time with our dogs, which wouldn't be possible if we weren't in lockdown. DSD: You have raised your voice against the treatment of animals in the past and now the roles have reversed Ashwini...lots of videos of animals freely roaming around and all of us are locked up. Ashwini: It's so strange to see these things. But I feel like nature has a way of balancing itself out and I believe everything happens for a reason. It must be the first time in years that the animals have the freedom to walk around in towns and cities. It's quite an eye-opener, but also nice to see all the positive content while we're locked down because it is important to keep our spirits up. DSD: You have previously raised your voice against animals being caged, now the roles have reversed during the lockdown, and awe are the ones who are unable to move freely... Ashwini: It's quite ironic how things have changed. It's also a bit weird because it's not just our country, the entire world is suffering.hopefully after this crisis is over, people will be more understanding towards the plight of the animals. I have a feeling people's outlook towards a lot of things will change after this ordeal. DSD: What for you has been the biggest piece of learning in these last 30 days or so.earlier before your marriage you used to stay alone in Hyderabad when training at national camp so you know how to manage on your own... Ashwini: It's actually a welcome break for me, I have travelled a lot over the past few years. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have had to represent my country, but sometimes you do feel like pressing the pause button. This forced lockdown has been a welcome break for me. I can sit back, relax and also have more control over my life. Nothing is pushing me at the moment and I can do things on my own terms. Sometimes when you're travelling and playing, life gets a bit monotonous and at times you're just going through the motions every day. So I feel like it's important to take a step back and realise why you started playing the sport in the first place, why you fell in love with the game. I like the fact that I am in charge of my routine. Whatever training I do, is purely because I want to do it. Sometimes when you're on tour, you lose track of why you do certain things because of the busy schedule. DSD: I was browsing through your Twitter feed and a lovely piece of skill was the home practice even as your husband in the background carried on with the TV viewing. Ashwini: I think he was doing some work on his laptop at that point in time. When I'm doing my training, he'll usually do his work, both of us are making the best use of this time. I'm trying to unwind and relax, take a step back to reflect on things and add more purpose to my actions. Meanwhile, my husband reads a lot, he does research based on his assignments. So while he was doing his work, I continued to do my wall practice. DSD: How essential it is to keep the skills sharp during this period because there is bound to be a period of rustiness when sport resumes at some point? Ashwini: I think it's essential to be in touch with your skills. Anything you can do to work on your game will go a long way in helping you regain your touch when you're back on the court. So any training is better than no training. Wall practice improves my defence, which is very important for a doubles player. I use a hex ball for my wall practice and the good thing about that is I can also work on different strokes. The apartment that I live in right now is pretty small, so it becomes difficult to practice with a shuttle. My two dogs also love the shuttle, so it is tough to use it. But with the hex ball, I can practice a wide array of shots and you can do it at a slower pace when compared to the shuttle, which comes back faster. So I'm glad I bought the hex ball a while back and I'm putting it to good use now. DSD: How are you and Sikki Reddy staying in touch? As doubles partners do you also usually spend time together to build up that understanding on-court? Ashwini: We stay together when we're on tour and even go out for meals when we can. Before Sikki got married we used to live together as well, so we have spent a lot of time together and do have a special bond. But when we come back home, it is much more family-centric. We try to spend as much time with our respective families as possible because we are travelling so much throughout the year. Right now we're just keeping in touch through social media posts, if Sikki posts an interesting video, I comment on it and otherwise we talk about shows that we're watching. DSD: What are you watching these days? Ashwini: You'll be shocked to know that I have started watching Korean shows, I've really gotten into Korean drama shows and Sikki enjoys watching them too. DSD: How essential is it to have belief in a partnership after an underwhelming year? The results in 2019 weren’t very good and you had a lot of run in’s with top seeds very early on. Ashwini: It is tough maintaining that belief, but if you see the matches that we lost last year in the first rounds, they were mostly against top five or top ten pairs. And they were all good contests, so that has only motivated us more to work harder and improve our performances. It is disappointing because we were in positions where we had our opponents on the ropes but weren't able to finish the job off. I was also struggling with a knee injury last year which also made it difficult to perform at the highest level. But it still gives us the satisfaction that we were competitive in most watches we played in. Sikki and I have been supportive of each other and hopefully, this year will bring much better results. DSD: Someone like you who has won the big medals, obviously wants to keep herself motivated to perform at the highest level, is that why I saw a picture of notes being taken of matches...are you doing a post-mortem of what has been going wrong? Ashwini: Absolutely, I feel like I've been working really hard and training a lot. So there's nothing lacking on those fronts. But there's obviously something that's missing from our performances. So as players I feel it is my responsibility to figure out why things aren't working out. Since we don't have video analysts of our own, I've been watching tapes of our matches and trying to observe if there is any pattern to our matches.so I've been trying to figure out a way of breaking everything down and making it easier for me to understand. DSD: You were part of the Indian team for the last two Olympics. This time do you think the postponement of Tokyo Games is going to work out in your favour? Ashwini: I'm not sure if that will be the case. This year initially, we still had a couple of months left for the Olympic qualification period for the 2020 games. No one really knows when things are going to resume and get back on track. I think it will only be fair if next year we are given that period again by the BWF to get out Olympic spots. But then again no one really knows how long the wait is going to be for the next tournament. We just have to play the waiting game at the moment. DSD: As things stand, we have 15 months for the Olympics.what in your opinion should the qualifying criteria be.should it be a fresh start or should they just play the tournaments that were lost due to the suspension. Ashwini: I think we should just play the tournaments that were lost because of the coronavirus pandemic because there was a lot of work put in by shuttlers for that one year of the qualification period that did take place. I think it would be unfair to start the process again even though it might be an advantage to some of us. The BWF, in my opinion, should just schedule the tournaments that were lost and I don't think there would be any complaints from the players. But like I said before, we do not know when the action will return. DSD: You weren't that far behind in terms of the ranking cut off for the Olympics, you were 4000- 5000 points behind, that can be made up with a few quarter-finals runs in tournaments, so do you think if the qualification period starts again on 1st March 2021 and goes on till 30th April 2021, you will be able to get a good shot at qualification? Ashwini: Yes, it would only be fair that we get that chance. I'm also confident that we will be able to achieve that because the last couple of Olympics we have been in similar scenarios and somehow managed to sneak our way with strong performances in the final few tournaments. So I think we still have a good chance of making the games even though we didn't have a good start. In the ideal situation, we would be in a much more comfortable situation, but I believe in fighting until the end because anything can happen in the last few months leading up to the games. DSD: There has been a lot of criticism of the BWF for the way they handled the pandemic. Has this period also exposed the leadership, in your sport? Ashwini: I think they were a little late in the decisions they took, they could have definitely taken a stand for the players a bit earlier. Many of us players voiced our concerns, a lot of us continued to play in tournaments even though we were scared of the outbreak of the disease. If the BWF is holding tournaments, you feel as if it is your duty to participate in the events. But I'm glad that BWF eventually heard our voices and took a call to suspend the tournaments. It's never too late and luckily they made the announcement in just the nick of time before the situation got out of control. So, the BWF might not have taken a decision as early as other world federations, but I'm happy that eventually the right call was made. DSD: How much are you in touch with the rest of the badminton circuit right now? Whatsapp, Skype, Google Hangouts or is this a welcome pause and just life on your own terms? Ashwini: I think because of social media, we do not actually have to constantly be in touch with everyone to know what they're doing. A lot of players have been putting up motivational videos. You get an idea into how each athlete is trying to keep fit during these tough times, which is helpful. So in a way, all of us have been aiding each other through this crisis. Even a funny or light post can encourage you to become more active.

Exclusive: 'It's a welcome break for me' - Ashwini Ponnappa opens up on life in lockdown, decision to play All England Championship, and much more

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out the entire sporting calendar. Sportspersons have been restricted to train indoors with absolutely no uncertainty as to when live-action will resume.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out the entire sporting calendar. Sportspersons have been restricted to train indoors with absolutely no uncertainty as to when live-action will resume. Tournaments and sporting events are facing postponement and cancellations in a year which was supposed to be the busiest when sports is concerned. While many athletes have taken this phase to spend time with families, there are others who are stuck in a foreign land. Five-time world champion and India's first-ever grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about life in and after lockdown, how he is spending his time in Germany, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, online chess with his son and much more… Digvijay Singh Deo: Anand, I have been speaking to many of India’s best sporting minds asking them about their routine during the lockdown in India. But you are in a village just outside of Frankfurt and completely alone. So to use a chess term you are under check! Anand: I think I'm just slightly off-centre, to use a chess term. I came to play with my german club and was supposed to play in two matches. one was scheduled for February and went ahead and the other was slotted for the middle of march. I was supposed the catch the flight back home the day after my final match. But my game was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic, and of course, my flight back to India was cancelled. Since then I have just been waiting for updates and as there is nothing else I can do. It's already been a month since that happened and I think it will take at least another 2-3 weeks for flights to resume.of course I would really love to be home with my family, but luckily I'm still able to talk to them. I'm fairly comfortable here in Germany and also have some friends nearby, so my situation could have been worse. but I just can't wait to get back. DSD: I was chatting with your wife Aruna and she told me this is the same flat where you used to prepare for your World Championship battles. Were you alone back then as well? Anand: Earlier when I was preparing for the world championship matches, I was staying at this same flat. My team was staying in a nearby hotel, we would often gather to get our work done, so there was a fair amount of social interaction. The chess community in Germany is extremely close-knit. I would call my current situation very intimate rather than being in isolation. On the chess front, I'm getting a lot of practice, which is a positive. DSD: Of course you are in daily touch with the family back in Chennai but just from what you are reading, how different is the situation in Germany and India where we have a complete lockdown? Anand: I'm in a small town called Bad Soden, 17 kilometres away from Frankfurt. The population is about 20,000 people and the restrictions are not very strict. Generally, you don't need to be very strict with germans because they are very disciplined. They've been following all the social distancing Guidelines and things are able to function here on a basic level. I'm able to stick to my daily routine. The only information I'm getting about the situation in India is through websites. There have been mentions about India on certain German news channels, but it's very hard to get the full picture from here. I will only be able to gauge the situation properly once I return home. DSD: Aruna was telling me that you were managing on pretty simple stuff for your food. So are you following any online cooking recipes or is your wife telling you what to make on Skype? Anand: My friends live next door and they have been very helpful, occasionally they invite me over for dinner. But otherwise, I don't try to make any dish which is complicated. I don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen, so I keep things simple. Some of the restaurants here also open for takeaways, so that's another option I fortunately have. I would say I'm extremely comfortable and all my previous training for tournaments has prepared me very well to live in this flat. So I can't really complain about most things. But this time I really feel I'm stuck. DSD: Anand, we have been seeing a lot of stuff from across the world on how many people are stuck especially Indians in various parts of the world due to the travel restrictions. Tennis player Sumit Nagal is in Germany too so are you in touch with the embassy about the possibility of being evacuated or are you prepared to wait it out as long as these restrictions are in place? Anand: The Indian embassy here in Germany has been very helpful with information. Unfortunately what they're telling me at the moment is that is impossible to get back home. So I'll just have to wait for the travel restrictions to be lifted. But they've been very helpful and proactive with information and it's been very easy to communicate with them during these times. In fact only yesterday I got in touch with them to inquire about my visa extension, since I'll have to stay here a little longer, and they sent me all the necessary information and steps to follow to do the needful. The embassy's Twitter page is also very helpful, it is regularly updated and the information is accurate. Sometimes, you cannot fully trust the information that the media puts out. DSD: Has this pandemic, which has wiped out the global sporting calendar made us realise how important sport is in our lives. Earlier we sort of had taken a lot of things for granted including sport on a weekend. Anand: Sport does form an important part of our life. We all have our favourite sporting events marked out in the calendar and look forward to them each year. So it's hard for sports fans to deal with the current situation because a major part of their lives has been suddenly taken away from them. Luckily with chess, certain events can take place online. The good things about these events are that you don't lose anything in terms of sporting excitement and atmosphere. There's been a lot of online chess activity, so that gives us something to follow. We're also in shock because suddenly I don't know when I'll play my next tournament. It could be in September or October, or maybe even next year. You simply have no way of knowing. Imagine if this crisis would have occurred ten years ago when internet speed and penetration were not what they are today. I wonder how people would have coped with the lockdown. So because of the internet, at least people are able to distract themselves during the day otherwise they would just be sitting idle. DSD: In many sports Anand we are seeing virtual competitions be it in cycling or motorsports…Is that the way to go to keep fans engaged and also to keep the players sharp through this period of uncertainty? Anand: Yes, you want to keep your fan engaged. At the end of the day, every sport is a community of people who love that particular game, and this is a good time to reach out to every one of those people. The events can be very simple, but that way you keep the connection alive and the whole community enjoys the activity together.every sport is trying to find some way to get around the crisis DSD: In Germany, there was talk of the football - Bundesliga - resuming behind closed doors in May but it has been sort of pushed back now. In many sports especially the outdoor ones the atmosphere elevates a match. Should sports which can give so much relief in times like this be played behind closed doors? Anand: It's only a situation that comes up during emergencies. Everyone admits that sport without fans is not the real thing and the value of it is diminished. Events held behind closed doors can be followed through the internet or television, everyone agrees the situation is far from perfect, but this is a compromise. It's not only about sport but for life in general. When have we ever faced anything like this? The world has come to an absolute standstill. I remember when I was in my 20s, I used to frequently forget which country I was in because I used to travel so often, but now this crisis has given my a completely new perspective on things. This situation is straight out of a science fiction movie. Whenever you watched those movies, you felt that the plot was too unrealistic, but here we are living that movie. DSD: When we do come out of this situation and it will take more than a few months for the world to slowly limp back to normal what are the lessons that we should never forget. Anand: I hope we learn to exercise restraint. The demand to have everything at your fingertips in an instant has certain consequences. I hope we learn to slow things down a little bit. The crisis has been devastating but the air quality in so many cities across the world has improved drastically. For the future, I think all governments should have basic protocol and guidelines ready for a pandemic.if that is not done, then we will face another crisis and the consequences will be terrible. So overall I think we do need to slow down a bit, the world was moving too fast and the virus was able to take advantage of it. DSD: Who would have imagined no cars on the road, we are seeing animals roaming freely in cities that have forests nearby, this lockdown is doing a lot to control carbon emissions etc. The fact remains if governments want, we can get our act together. Anand: If tomorrow the restrictions are lifted, I have no doubt that things will go back to the way they were. But over a period of time, if we can learn to live with 90 per cent of the resources we are living with right now, then the situation will be so much better. There are so many things which we just accept as the price for development- traffic, deteriorating air quality. These things are just accepted as the price you have to pay for progress. But if we can slow things down there will be immense benefits to humanity as a whole. I was personally blown away while watching the zebra trotting around in Paris. It's beautiful to see the animals do such things because they have been unable to live with such freedom for generations. There is so much to learn from this enforced lesson. We always thought it was impossible to slow society down, but now we realise it can be done. Governments are able to shut down entire countries for a certain period of time. Perhaps we need to learn to live with certain restrictions because the benefits are so clear as well. DSD: The Olympics too have been postponed. You have been a mentor at Olympic Gold Quest for many years now. Many of the sportspersons prepare for 4 years for this one shot at glory. How do they keep their spirits up when faced with a 15-month delay? Anand: Mentoring is important and we do have to help each other through these tough times, but on the other hand there is no one who has experienced anything like this, so it is difficult to really be a mentor in this crisis. Sometimes life is more powerful than our plans. There is nothing we can do about it, sometimes you just have to accept the inevitable. In terms of preparation for the games, athletes should aim to wipe out these few months and start mentally preparing for the games in March 2021, the same way they were doing so in march 2020. That will help them get back in the groove with the objective of peaking in July. A year is a long time in the career of some athletes and the postponement might deter their chances if doing well, but like I said these things out not in our control. First, we have to accept the prevailing situation and overcome the circumstances. I think that will happen till July or August. So there is enough time to prepare for the Olympics next year and hopefully, we will be able to communicate with our athletes and address their concerns. DSD: Staying with the Olympic postponement, has this pandemic also exposed the leadership at many sporting bodies. There has been a lot of criticism of the IOC for putting athletes at risk by asking them to initially continue training. Anand: I feel not only sporting bodies, but even national governments have been ill-prepared for this pandemic. It's easy to criticise and point fingers, but we must take into account that we have never had a crisis like this. People are always trying to deal with issues with a template of how they overcame similar problems in the past, but this crisis is truly unprecedented. The really difficult thing is to do what Wimbledon did. The event got pandemic insurance 17 years ago and for that time they paid their premiums, and now their far-sighted decision is paying dividends. That leadership shown by Wimbledon was admirable.but otherwise, there is no point in pointing fingers at sporting bodies for their management of this crisis, it won't achieve anything. But it is important to be wary of a situation like this in the future. Pandemics might happen infrequently, but the damage done is extraordinary.even governments must be better prepared for a health crisis like this in the future. Medical facilities must be set up to deal with a massive outbreak like this. Like I said before we must slow down a bit. We can't be chasing profitability all the time. I feel every company will need to set aside some funds for a crisis, all the money can't be distributed among the shareholders. The crisis fund will help in paying the employees their salaries and keeps the organisation alive.this sort of planning will have to enter our ecosystem and we will need more of far-sighted decisions. DSD: Even in your sport, the Candidates began under the shadow of the coronavirus and then was abruptly ended. FIDE did not come out particularly well through this flip flop. At some point it will resume, how difficult will it be for the players to switch on because you usually enter a tournament with a set mindset and then suddenly it is all upside down. Would it be fair to resume from where it is or start from scratch again? Anand: The Candidates tournaments have kicked off and the contestants who are leading will never agree to give up their lead. So I think the tournament will resume from where it stopped. I am not that critical of FIDE. They could have taken the decision even before the tournament in March. If you go back to February, even a lot of world leaders were saying that the situation will improve soon and things will get back to normal. Sporting bodies to follow the line of national governments so the Candidates tournament went ahead. The players were not that endangers since they would have had access to better medical facilities in Russia than in their home towns. The entire tournament would have been in jeopardy if airspace would have shut at the time. I don't think in future any tournament will be held in such a crisis, but that is because we have learnt our lesson and gone through this experience. It is easy to say that the tournament should not have been held altogether. I don't see how FIDE can put things right. They cannot compensate both Teimour Radjabov, who withdrew from the event before the start, and the leaders at the same time. This doesn't need a clever diplomat, it's impossible to solve because you cannot satisfy all parties. Sometimes in life, you just have to accept that things happen beyond your control and there is no way back. Even the expectation that everything will be fair and proper, is a sign that we are in control of all events. So nothing can be done sometimes and we just have to accept the circumstances. DSD: You were doing commentary through the tournament, what do you make of it as things stand? Anand: I really enjoyed doing commentary, it's the first time i did it and it was great experience. Before it began i was unsure of how to approach it, one approach i could take is speak from the perspective of being a top player and someone who has had success in the game and try to figure every move from the players' point of view. The other approach is that of a pure fan, where you just enjoy the wonderful games on view. So i think eventually i tried to mix those two approaches and enjoyed myself. The leader-board is not a huge surprise. Maybe the only disappointment is that fabio caruana didn't hit the ground running in the beginning of the tournament. But i'm only saying that because of his strong performances at the end of last year. Having said that. He's still within striking distance and as things stand, the tournament is very competitive. The two leaders- maxime vachier-lagrave and nepomniachtchi are doing well but they are within reach. I enjoyed following the event as a fan because there is no pressure, something you have to deal with as a player. But while i was doing commentary, i also kept putting myself in the players' shoes and that sometimes made me miss playing the game. DSD: So let me Ask Anand the pundit if he has seen enough at the Candidates to feel that Magnus Carlsen can be challenged by one of the contestants. Anand: Someone like Maxime Vacherie-Lagrave, only got to know five days before the event that he is playing, and despite being aware of the coronavirus crisis in his native France, he was just desperate to play.so they are constantly willing to challenge themselves to reach next level. Also I think in away they will be stronger for having gone through this experience. The postponements will test the players, but if they are able to keep themselves motivated, then that itself is a kind of training. The World Championships this year will I think almost certainly be postponed to next year and that could have an effect on the players' performances. I don't think any of the participants in the candidates tournament are that far behind magnus carlsen. Carlsen is certainly the strongest player in the world but he can be challenged. Especially if the candidates winner can get a good run of form before the world championships, i think carlsen will be pushed hard. DSD: My final question to you Anand, your chess skills are legendary but how is Anand the dad as a chess player. You do play online with your son , those are the small joys for you. Anand: It's hard to play chess with my son, because naturally my player instincts come in and sometimes i want to tell him not to make a particular move. But my wife, Aruna, keeps reminding me that i'm his dad and not his coach. My son is currently playing chess on this website which helps children learn the game, so he successfully climbed the ladder and reached level 10, the toughest grade in the series. But he wasn't able to crack that grade. So he asked me to play from his account t improve his score,so i agreed. But I played three games against the computer and I just couldn't beat it because it was too strong. We often say that computers are smarter than humans, and in this case the statement holds true. So my son was really annoyed when I told him that I wasn't able to win the game for him. But mainly I think playing chess with my son and is just a chance to connect with him. I'm very happy he's playing the game and he's doing very well. When I play against my son, I'm somewhere between a dad and a chess player, because sometimes I can't hep myself and play properly.

Exclusive: 'Hope we learn to exercise restraint when this ends' - Viswanathan Anand on life after lockdown, being stuck in Germany and more

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out the entire sporting calendar. While the year 2020 was supposed to be an extremely hectic year in the world of sports, the dreaded virus has left the fans and sportspersons with absolutely no live action at all. Hockey is one of the sports to have taken a body blow from the coronavirus pandemic. After the extension of the lockdown till May 3 by the Indian government, Hockey India decided to postpone all its national championships indefinitely. In the international circuit, there will be no matches for the Indian team until the month of June, as of now.&nbsp;

The goalkeeper of Indian men's hockey team, PR Sreejesh, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from lockdown in SAI campus in Bengaluru, training while maintaining social distancing, postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, the emergence of young talents in Indian hockey, and much more.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-might-be-a-good-idea-to-look-at-quarantine-facility-for-olympic-hopefuls-pullela-gopichand-opens-up-on-postponed-games-and-more-292727" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Might be a good idea to look at quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls' - Pullela Gopichand opens up on postponed Games and more</a>

Digvijay Singh Deo: Now normally Sreejesh is a very jovial person but the lockdown is no laughing matter. &nbsp;Hopefully no dampening of spirits within the Indian team…

Sreejesh:&nbsp;We are still trying to keep our spirits up, unfortunately, certain things are not in our control. We are just trying to stay positive and focus on the things that make us happy.

DSD:&nbsp;You are in Bengaluru inside the Sports Authority of India campus. I am told that the officials there very strictly enforced social distancing back in the second week of March itself and no outsiders were allowed to enter the campus…

Sreejesh: This was a great initiative from SAI we started our camp here on March 1, so we've been here for over six weeks. The gates of the campus were closed in March itself, and they didn't allow any outsiders to enter and no person from the campus could leave the premises as well. It is perfect for us to be able to stay here during the lockdown. I believe we are completely safe and secure here inside the campus.

<img alt="Exclusive: 'Trying to stay positive and keep our spirits up' - PR Sreejesh reflects on life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, and much more" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bee04e38-fda1-4525-bb98-a4b7cc7d39bb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pr-sreejesh-hockey-file-pti.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;Now what is your routine and that of your team especially when we all have to follow social distancing… 
&nbsp; 
Sreejesh:&nbsp;As we all know the Olympics have been postponed and no international events are coming up in the near future, but still we are focussing on our fitness and strength. We are following the safety guidelines that have been issued by the government. So our staff here has prepared individual training schedules for players. We go in groups of 2 or 3 to run on the track.

We can't use the gym, but we are undergoing individual weight training sessions in whatever space we can. Our focus right now is on maintaining our fitness levels that we have built up over the last few years. We are not doing any hockey training at the moment because of the social distancing rules, but we are continuing to work hard on our fitness levels.

DSD: You come from Kerala and there have been a lot of positive cases there. Your family is there so are you in touch with them daily?

Sreejesh:&nbsp;Yes, the safety of my family was my first concern when the crisis started. My father is over 60 yeas old and he is a heart patient, so it is extremely important for him to be safe and remain inside the house with my mother. I have told them not to leave the house unless it is for something urgent. I have two children who are less than six years old, so being away from them is tough, but I read the situation in Kerala is improving. The government, medical professionals and the people of the state are doing a commendable job in limiting the spread of the virus.

DSD: Now in the last month we have seen the global sporting calendar wiped out. The Olympics which was the dream of everyone associated with Indian hockey too was postponed. How did the team and especially you react to that news?

Sreejesh:&nbsp;The first reaction was that of disappointment because for the last year we were preparing for the 2020 Olympics scheduled in July and August. We sealed our place in the games in November last year and since then we were in a good run of form, we started the FIH Pro League on a positive note as well.

But like I said before the postponement is something that is not in our control. Now we have another year to improve our game, work on our weaknesses and further sharpen our strengths. In terms of mental preparedness as well, we have to accept the fact that the games have been pushed back. But I'm sure if we maintain our focus and intensity levels, we will continue to challenge the world's top teams as we have been doing recently.

DSD: The Olympics need a lot of detailed planning and coaches spend a lot of time trying to ensure the team peaks right during the Olympics. The way we were playing sort of showed we had momentum behind us.how do you start from scratch again now with the games now 15 months away.

Sreejesh:&nbsp;Yes that's correct if you see our results in the last few months, we have been steadily improving. Our performances in the pro league were particularly encouraging. But then the whole scenario changed because of the coronavirus crisis. Now there is even uncertainty whether the games will be held in 2021 as well. But this is not in our control, we can only ensure that whenever the games happen, we are fully prepared for the competition. We have to maintain our mental and physical state throughout these 15 months. There will also be changes in the tactics and the performance levels of our competitors.

<img alt="Exclusive: 'Trying to stay positive and keep our spirits up' - PR Sreejesh reflects on life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, and much more" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="797cf470-7e5f-4bef-b779-594802b179bc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Hkg5495227.jpg" />

New players might come in and they might undertake a new style of play. But overall, I think our momentum heading into the games was halted which means we have to re-calibrate. Once we know the schedule for the next competitive match, then only we will able to get our rhythm back. We have enough time to work on our basics and get our campaign back on track. In terms of fitness levels, I feel our trainer is good enough to ensure that we make up for the time that we have lost in the gym and in the field. So I believe we will regain our fitness levels once the lockdown is over.

DSD: We have seen this year during the FIH Pro League how younger players were coming into the team and gelling well with the experienced lot including you and Manpreet. Now seniors like you know how to deal with adversity having spent so much time in the game. How crucial a role do you see for yourself, Manpreet, Kothajit and Rupinderpal in guiding these young players through this period of uncertainty.

Sreejesh: Yes that is true, but even for us senior players this is a completely new experience. I have been out of international competitions only once in my life for an extended period of time of about 6-7 months, which was due to an injury. But my advice to young players would be to focus on the basics and maintain your fitness levels. But I would also encourage them not to stress about the ongoing situation. This would be a great time for them to learn a new skill, apart from sport. They can read books and gain other interests, which will, in turn, develop their personalities not just as sportspersons but as human beings.

This might even help in their growth as a player because they will have a new outlook on life when they step on the field. So during the lockdown, there is no point on dwelling on the things that we are not able to do, but instead, make the best of what we have and use this period to sharpen our brain and work on our physical fitness. If the players remain positive and keep themselves occupied in some form, I'm sure the players will benefit and we will hit the ground running when we return to the field.

DSD: So the lockdown we know is continuing till May 3rd, the Pro League matches are off till may end and across the world, with various flight restrictions and quarantine measures in place there is a possibility that we see no sporting action before July end ..that is around 4-5 months at-least without top-flight action…how do you maintain the intensity levels in a time like this?

Sreejesh: I think this is the time when we need to take our foot off the pedal because it is impossible to remain in peak fitness for 365 days in a year. We, of course, need to retain our basic levels of fitness and be mentally prepared to return to action. As a team, this is the time we are using to unwind. We are doing a sort of post-mortem on our past matches and analysing areas in which we can improve. As athletes, we are involved in international events for a majority of the year, so it can get difficult to deal with such a lockdown, but all we can do is wait and make do with what we have. Once the schedule is out, then hopefully we will get enough time to prepare and regain our fitness levels.

<img alt="Exclusive: 'Trying to stay positive and keep our spirits up' - PR Sreejesh reflects on life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, and much more" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f69178db-c0c3-4984-9786-68189737158a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pr-sreejash.jpg" />

DSD: Obviously sport is not a priority at the moment but how important will sport be when the world slowly limps back to normal. Do you think that this period without sport anywhere will actually make everyone appreciate the value of a sportsperson&nbsp;even more, we sort of take things for granted but not anymore.

Sreejesh: It is so strange in a way because people have so much free time at home to watch sport, but there is no action anywhere in the world. But sports has the power to take people's mind off from the doom and gloom of daily life and lift the spirit of everyone. People might cherish sports more after the lockdown since they are desperate for some action and there is none available at the moment. So sportspersons might be respected more after the lockdown in terms of the 'value' that they add to society.

DSD: Are you in touch with fellow internationals from other teams across the world…do you compare notes with what is happening in their daily lives?

Sreejesh: Yes, luckily because of social media I am able to connect with a number of international players. All of the player I've spoken to are finding it hard to deal with these unprecedented times. In Europe, the restrictions are extremely strict and it is difficult to function. But the important thing is that they are receiving all the essential services. Most prominent hockey players are working out at home and putting out content on social media. Young players can learn from the work ethic of these stars.it also sends out a message on the importance of staying healthy in these tough times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out the entire sporting calendar. While the year 2020 was supposed to be an extremely hectic year in the world of sports, the dreaded virus has left the fans and sportspersons with absolutely no live action at all.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out the entire sporting calendar. While the year 2020 was supposed to be an extremely hectic year in the world of sports, the dreaded virus has left the fans and sportspersons with absolutely no live action at all. Hockey is one of the sports to have taken a body blow from the coronavirus pandemic. After the extension of the lockdown till May 3 by the Indian government, Hockey India decided to postpone all its national championships indefinitely. In the international circuit, there will be no matches for the Indian team until the month of June, as of now. The goalkeeper of Indian men's hockey team, PR Sreejesh, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about a lot of things ranging from lockdown in SAI campus in Bengaluru, training while maintaining social distancing, postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, the emergence of young talents in Indian hockey, and much more. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Might be a good idea to look at quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls' - Pullela Gopichand opens up on postponed Games and more Digvijay Singh Deo: Now normally Sreejesh is a very jovial person but the lockdown is no laughing matter. Hopefully no dampening of spirits within the Indian team… Sreejesh: We are still trying to keep our spirits up, unfortunately, certain things are not in our control. We are just trying to stay positive and focus on the things that make us happy. DSD: You are in Bengaluru inside the Sports Authority of India campus. I am told that the officials there very strictly enforced social distancing back in the second week of March itself and no outsiders were allowed to enter the campus… Sreejesh: This was a great initiative from SAI we started our camp here on March 1, so we've been here for over six weeks. The gates of the campus were closed in March itself, and they didn't allow any outsiders to enter and no person from the campus could leave the premises as well. It is perfect for us to be able to stay here during the lockdown. I believe we are completely safe and secure here inside the campus. DSD: Now what is your routine and that of your team especially when we all have to follow social distancing… Sreejesh: As we all know the Olympics have been postponed and no international events are coming up in the near future, but still we are focussing on our fitness and strength. We are following the safety guidelines that have been issued by the government. So our staff here has prepared individual training schedules for players. We go in groups of 2 or 3 to run on the track. We can't use the gym, but we are undergoing individual weight training sessions in whatever space we can. Our focus right now is on maintaining our fitness levels that we have built up over the last few years. We are not doing any hockey training at the moment because of the social distancing rules, but we are continuing to work hard on our fitness levels. DSD: You come from Kerala and there have been a lot of positive cases there. Your family is there so are you in touch with them daily? Sreejesh: Yes, the safety of my family was my first concern when the crisis started. My father is over 60 yeas old and he is a heart patient, so it is extremely important for him to be safe and remain inside the house with my mother. I have told them not to leave the house unless it is for something urgent. I have two children who are less than six years old, so being away from them is tough, but I read the situation in Kerala is improving. The government, medical professionals and the people of the state are doing a commendable job in limiting the spread of the virus. DSD: Now in the last month we have seen the global sporting calendar wiped out. The Olympics which was the dream of everyone associated with Indian hockey too was postponed. How did the team and especially you react to that news? Sreejesh: The first reaction was that of disappointment because for the last year we were preparing for the 2020 Olympics scheduled in July and August. We sealed our place in the games in November last year and since then we were in a good run of form, we started the FIH Pro League on a positive note as well. But like I said before the postponement is something that is not in our control. Now we have another year to improve our game, work on our weaknesses and further sharpen our strengths. In terms of mental preparedness as well, we have to accept the fact that the games have been pushed back. But I'm sure if we maintain our focus and intensity levels, we will continue to challenge the world's top teams as we have been doing recently. DSD: The Olympics need a lot of detailed planning and coaches spend a lot of time trying to ensure the team peaks right during the Olympics. The way we were playing sort of showed we had momentum behind us.how do you start from scratch again now with the games now 15 months away. Sreejesh: Yes that's correct if you see our results in the last few months, we have been steadily improving. Our performances in the pro league were particularly encouraging. But then the whole scenario changed because of the coronavirus crisis. Now there is even uncertainty whether the games will be held in 2021 as well. But this is not in our control, we can only ensure that whenever the games happen, we are fully prepared for the competition. We have to maintain our mental and physical state throughout these 15 months. There will also be changes in the tactics and the performance levels of our competitors. New players might come in and they might undertake a new style of play. But overall, I think our momentum heading into the games was halted which means we have to re-calibrate. Once we know the schedule for the next competitive match, then only we will able to get our rhythm back. We have enough time to work on our basics and get our campaign back on track. In terms of fitness levels, I feel our trainer is good enough to ensure that we make up for the time that we have lost in the gym and in the field. So I believe we will regain our fitness levels once the lockdown is over. DSD: We have seen this year during the FIH Pro League how younger players were coming into the team and gelling well with the experienced lot including you and Manpreet. Now seniors like you know how to deal with adversity having spent so much time in the game. How crucial a role do you see for yourself, Manpreet, Kothajit and Rupinderpal in guiding these young players through this period of uncertainty. Sreejesh: Yes that is true, but even for us senior players this is a completely new experience. I have been out of international competitions only once in my life for an extended period of time of about 6-7 months, which was due to an injury. But my advice to young players would be to focus on the basics and maintain your fitness levels. But I would also encourage them not to stress about the ongoing situation. This would be a great time for them to learn a new skill, apart from sport. They can read books and gain other interests, which will, in turn, develop their personalities not just as sportspersons but as human beings. This might even help in their growth as a player because they will have a new outlook on life when they step on the field. So during the lockdown, there is no point on dwelling on the things that we are not able to do, but instead, make the best of what we have and use this period to sharpen our brain and work on our physical fitness. If the players remain positive and keep themselves occupied in some form, I'm sure the players will benefit and we will hit the ground running when we return to the field. DSD: So the lockdown we know is continuing till May 3rd, the Pro League matches are off till may end and across the world, with various flight restrictions and quarantine measures in place there is a possibility that we see no sporting action before July end ..that is around 4-5 months at-least without top-flight action…how do you maintain the intensity levels in a time like this? Sreejesh: I think this is the time when we need to take our foot off the pedal because it is impossible to remain in peak fitness for 365 days in a year. We, of course, need to retain our basic levels of fitness and be mentally prepared to return to action. As a team, this is the time we are using to unwind. We are doing a sort of post-mortem on our past matches and analysing areas in which we can improve. As athletes, we are involved in international events for a majority of the year, so it can get difficult to deal with such a lockdown, but all we can do is wait and make do with what we have. Once the schedule is out, then hopefully we will get enough time to prepare and regain our fitness levels. DSD: Obviously sport is not a priority at the moment but how important will sport be when the world slowly limps back to normal. Do you think that this period without sport anywhere will actually make everyone appreciate the value of a sportsperson even more, we sort of take things for granted but not anymore. Sreejesh: It is so strange in a way because people have so much free time at home to watch sport, but there is no action anywhere in the world. But sports has the power to take people's mind off from the doom and gloom of daily life and lift the spirit of everyone. People might cherish sports more after the lockdown since they are desperate for some action and there is none available at the moment. So sportspersons might be respected more after the lockdown in terms of the 'value' that they add to society. DSD: Are you in touch with fellow internationals from other teams across the world…do you compare notes with what is happening in their daily lives? Sreejesh: Yes, luckily because of social media I am able to connect with a number of international players. All of the player I've spoken to are finding it hard to deal with these unprecedented times. In Europe, the restrictions are extremely strict and it is difficult to function. But the important thing is that they are receiving all the essential services. Most prominent hockey players are working out at home and putting out content on social media. Young players can learn from the work ethic of these stars.it also sends out a message on the importance of staying healthy in these tough times.

Exclusive: 'Trying to stay positive and keep our spirits up' - PR Sreejesh reflects on life in lockdown, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, and much more

Badminton is one of the sports to be hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has cancelled a host of events like the Australian Open, Thailand Open 2020, Indonesia Open 2020, Russian Open 2020, among others. There's even&nbsp;major uncertainty on the qualification scenario for the Tokyo Olympics when it comes to badminton, which was postponed to 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, the athletes have been restricted to train indoors in a bid to stay fit whenever the sporting action resumes.

The Chief National Coach for the Indian Badminton team, the only Indian sportsperson to win both Khel Ratna and Dronacharya award, Pullela Gopichand, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a lot of topics ranging from the importance of remaining physically and mentally fit during lockdown, being friends with technology to keep up the training regimes, the postponed Olympics, idea of quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls and much more...

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&nbsp;

Digvijay Singh Deo: Now Gopi is usually a very busy man and I have once had to wake up at 5:30 am to interview him. But for this interview, we both had to coordinate the online class timings of our sons. Must say online classes are a boon during these thought times...

<o:p></o:p>

Gopichand:&nbsp;The online classes keep the kids busy, otherwise they would be a quite tough to handle in these times

DSD: The family must be pretty surprised to see you at home Gopi all this while. Your day starts and ends at the academy mostly in normal times...

Gopichand: Surprisingly, it's not been bad till now, I've enjoyed my stay at home. I returned from the UK on the 15th of March, which was a very sensitive time. I put myself in quarantine for two weeks even though it wasn't mandatory for me at that time. My wife and kids only joined me last week. So overall, I've enjoyed my time at home. My parents are staying at my house in Hyderabad since it is more important for them to be safe, and I've come to the farmhouse along with my wife and kids.

DSD: What’s happening with your academies?&nbsp;They are pretty big and is any anyone looking after the basic maintenance?

Gopichand: Only a skeletal housekeeping staff is operating at the academy now since we've been closed for a month.

DSD: There were a few players who decided to opt-out of the All England and they left the academy and returned home after some cases were reported in the vicinity...

Gopichand: I think that period in early March, people were sceptical about travelling anywhere in the world because the disease had started to spread in the UK. It was already a crisis in Italy, so players were a bit apprehensive of going for the tournament. With health and safety being a priority, the players decided it would be best for them to skip the all England championship.

<img alt="Pulella Gopichand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43524156-9acc-4824-962a-e3c28eb13dbb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Hkg10096807.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;In hindsight do you think all of you took a huge risk in travelling to Birmingham for the All England Championships?&nbsp;It is a very prestigious championship and one of your most memorable triumphs as well. 
&nbsp; 
Gopichand: I was clear I didn't want to go, nor did I want the players to travel.but it was the players' choice which prevailed and I obviously had to go with them. I didn't have an option. My initial plan was not to go, but at the last moment our Korean coach Park Tae Sang wasn't able to travel due to some restrictions and some members of the support staff also dropped out. So it became mandatory for me to travel with the team. I think conducting the All England Championship was a huge risk. I was of that opinion before the tournament as well and still hold the same view. I did advise some players like HS Prannoy, Sameer Verma and Sourabh Verma against travelling for the tournament since it would not greatly affect their world rankings or Olympic qualification chances.from an organisational point of view, I do believe that the tournament should not have taken place

DSD: You are a hard taskmaster so have you got some kind of online classes going for the players...

Gopichand: We are using online platforms to have fitness sessions for all our players. There is a trainer who holds the morning session and there is a strength and conditioning session in the evening as well. We are roughly managing to do about 11 sessions in a week. Of course, it's not the same as being out on the court, but we have to make to with what we have. We have to keep ourselves in good shape physically and mentally during the lockdown. 
&nbsp; 
DSD: How essential is it not to lose your fitness during this period Gopi?&nbsp;Badminton is an extremely gruelling sport and if you are not&nbsp;hundred per cent it sort of shows on the court. 
&nbsp; 
Gopichand: Staying fit is of paramount importance during these times, any players who fail to maintain his or her physical fitness during the lockdown is going to suffer.players often have injuries, when they are not able to do much, but they are still able to do their mental training, visualisation and a little bit of strengthening. Some of these things do not require much space, what you need is a yearning to learn. In terms of the badminton calendar, we don't know what the scenario is or what it will be after in six months or a year. All we can do is that ensure the players are in good physical shape whenever it starts. I've always maintained this mantra, that the 'process is the goal'. So, even during the lockdown, the players must prepare and be ready for the next tournament whenever that may be.

DSD: Do you have any sort of an indication as to when the calendar will resume? As things stand even October 2020 seems a stretch especially with long term travel restrictions in place. 
&nbsp; 
Gopichand:&nbsp;We can speculate all we want, but I would rather focus on being prepared for whenever tournaments return. The players have to keep busy during the lockdown and train hard every day in whatever capacity they can, that's all we can do at the moment. Action could return in October 2020, or in October 2021, its just speculation at the moment. With or without the lockdown, the process should be the goal. Athletes have to keep themselves motivated and push themselves day in and day out, with whatever resources they have.

<img alt="Pulella Gopichand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64c5e6aa-0120-45c3-9eeb-53add128c843" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_UQ6U5.jpg" /> 
&nbsp; 
DSD: At some point, the global calendar will resume but will it fair, I have heard that in a few countries where the virus has been contained practice is on like China and Chinese Taipei and those players will be the main rivals for our players. 
&nbsp; 
Gopichand:&nbsp;Sport has never been fair. It is the best of what an athlete can make of whatever circumstances he or she has been given and the players who have the best facilities available to them don't always win. The scenario is also not as bad as some people might think. Right now tournaments have been suspended till July. But if BWF were to announce that tournaments would resume after that, there would be at least a two month notice period for all the players, since the various arrangements would have to be made for travel, accommodation and training. So I think that time is sufficient for players to prepare if their physical fitness has not deteriorated during the lockdown. 
&nbsp; 
DSD: Let’s get to the Olympics now and the way things were shaping up would you consider it a positive thing for Indian badminton considering we were probably going to have just 2 entries had the games gone ahead as per schedule. 
&nbsp; 
Gopichand:&nbsp;Yes, I think most coaches would have agreed to postpone the games for a year. Last year was extremely hectic and players were hardly getting any time to train, and only a small part of the qualification period was left. Now with the whole year available to the players, it is a good time for them to rest, train and get back. 
&nbsp; 
DSD: I must say that I found the BWF leadership during the crisis extremely shoddy. The Olympic qualifying process is sacrosanct and it is four years of toil for a player. I do not think they were being fair by denying opportunities to players with so many cancellations happening. What do you think? 
&nbsp; 
Gopichand:&nbsp;The Olympic qualification period was ending in April, and tournaments had been suspended from the second week of March. So there were about eight weeks to go for the qualification period the BWF still hasn't announced the new qualification norms. I would want to see them consider the 44 weeks of the qualification period that had been completed&nbsp;since all the players and coaches assumed that those would form apart of the qualifiers. The rest of the eight weeks that were left should be adjusted, so whatever tournaments that have been lost should take place either next year in March and April or sometime this year. Every tournament that was suspended should be replaced with an equally graded tournament. I would believe that the BWF would be planning something like that, so players won't have to pay for the tournament cancellations. 
&nbsp; 
DSD: World Athletics has stopped all Olympic qualifying till December 1. What sort of timelines should the BWF come up with considering that the IOC deadline is June end of 2021? Should there be a 10-tournament swing starting December to decide on the Olympic berths perhaps?

Gopichand: I believe that the 44 weeks of the Olympic qualification period that has been completed, should be frozen. In badminton, the Olympic spots are not determined by a particular tournament or event, they are decided by an aggregate number of points. In that kind of scenario, it makes sense to retain he ranking for the already-completed period, and the remaining tournaments that were part of the qualifiers can take place in the same months next year.one of the dangers of this lockdown is that the players who are in a comfortable position to qualify at the moment, might get complacent and not train enough.

So because their slot is all but confirmed, those players might not perform at the highest level at the tournaments. I think whatever new qualification norms the BWF announces, it is bound to be criticised by various nations because those countries will look at the process from their own perspective with regards to how the norms will benefit their players' chances of qualification. But I think it is fair to give time to the BWF to decide on the new norms.

<img alt="Pulella Gopichand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1330ddee-0e25-4659-a629-5d81ecc60aa9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1JT00O.jpg" /> 
&nbsp; 
DSD: Do you also have to recalibrate your approach that has worked so well in the last. Ahead of an Olympics you usually work intensely for two to three months with the players. And it has paid off in London 2012 and Rio 2016. I am not sure you will get that much time for 2021 especially if the qualifying race gets tight. 
&nbsp; 
Gopichand: I think the situation is different when compared to the 2008, 2012 or 2016 Olympics, the players are at a different level. We have foreign coaches and specialised event coaches as part of our support staff. So this time my role will be different. I will look at things more closely when the tournament schedule is out and decide on the best plan for each player. 
&nbsp; 
DSD: Abhinav Bindra told me a few weeks back that the experienced players will cope with this delay better than the younger ones. For example, this works out very well for Kento Momota who was recovering from that car accident in Malaysia.&nbsp;Is it time for the best minds in Indian sport to get together and chart out a collective way forward. Every sport is currently in its own cocoon but I think when it comes to the mental approach you can learn from shooting, perhaps hockey can be able to share more tips about fitness. Since the Sports Authority of India pays most salaries the ministry can get everyone together for a two to three-day summit. Can that work?

Gopichand: I think the next few months will be very critical. Right now the lockdown is till may 3rd, but it could very well be extended. Our athletes might not get tournament exposure for the next few months at least. It will definitely help if top sporting minds come together to work out a plan that will benefit all Indian athletes. It might even be a good idea to look at a quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls from all sports. For example, since inter-city travel is not possible, athletes from the same city can stay at a facility which allows them to train for the upcoming events. We might also have to plan for domestic leagues and tournaments because restrictions in India could be lifted before those of other countries. &nbsp;Since global tournaments would not be taking place, there will be a need to replace those with quality domestic competitions to make up for the loss of international exposure.

We are going through an unprecedented crisis, so adjustments need to be made. For example, I had never used a mobile phone application for training, but we are forced to do that now and that has become the norm. So we are looking at different ways to help the players enhance their skills during this lockdown. Adaptability is the key, we have to make quick decisions and think out of the box 
&nbsp;

Badminton is one of the sports to be hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has cancelled a host of events like the Australian Open, Thailand Open 2020, Indonesia Open 2020, Russian Open 2020, among others.

Badminton is one of the sports to be hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has cancelled a host of events like the Australian Open, Thailand Open 2020, Indonesia Open 2020, Russian Open 2020, among others. There's even major uncertainty on the qualification scenario for the Tokyo Olympics when it comes to badminton, which was postponed to 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, the athletes have been restricted to train indoors in a bid to stay fit whenever the sporting action resumes. The Chief National Coach for the Indian Badminton team, the only Indian sportsperson to win both Khel Ratna and Dronacharya award, Pullela Gopichand, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a lot of topics ranging from the importance of remaining physically and mentally fit during lockdown, being friends with technology to keep up the training regimes, the postponed Olympics, idea of quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls and much more... × Digvijay Singh Deo: Now Gopi is usually a very busy man and I have once had to wake up at 5:30 am to interview him. But for this interview, we both had to coordinate the online class timings of our sons. Must say online classes are a boon during these thought times... Gopichand: The online classes keep the kids busy, otherwise they would be a quite tough to handle in these times DSD: The family must be pretty surprised to see you at home Gopi all this while. Your day starts and ends at the academy mostly in normal times... Gopichand: Surprisingly, it's not been bad till now, I've enjoyed my stay at home. I returned from the UK on the 15th of March, which was a very sensitive time. I put myself in quarantine for two weeks even though it wasn't mandatory for me at that time. My wife and kids only joined me last week. So overall, I've enjoyed my time at home. My parents are staying at my house in Hyderabad since it is more important for them to be safe, and I've come to the farmhouse along with my wife and kids. DSD: What’s happening with your academies? They are pretty big and is any anyone looking after the basic maintenance? Gopichand: Only a skeletal housekeeping staff is operating at the academy now since we've been closed for a month. DSD: There were a few players who decided to opt-out of the All England and they left the academy and returned home after some cases were reported in the vicinity... Gopichand: I think that period in early March, people were sceptical about travelling anywhere in the world because the disease had started to spread in the UK. It was already a crisis in Italy, so players were a bit apprehensive of going for the tournament. With health and safety being a priority, the players decided it would be best for them to skip the all England championship. DSD: In hindsight do you think all of you took a huge risk in travelling to Birmingham for the All England Championships? It is a very prestigious championship and one of your most memorable triumphs as well. Gopichand: I was clear I didn't want to go, nor did I want the players to travel.but it was the players' choice which prevailed and I obviously had to go with them. I didn't have an option. My initial plan was not to go, but at the last moment our Korean coach Park Tae Sang wasn't able to travel due to some restrictions and some members of the support staff also dropped out. So it became mandatory for me to travel with the team. I think conducting the All England Championship was a huge risk. I was of that opinion before the tournament as well and still hold the same view. I did advise some players like HS Prannoy, Sameer Verma and Sourabh Verma against travelling for the tournament since it would not greatly affect their world rankings or Olympic qualification chances.from an organisational point of view, I do believe that the tournament should not have taken place DSD: You are a hard taskmaster so have you got some kind of online classes going for the players... Gopichand: We are using online platforms to have fitness sessions for all our players. There is a trainer who holds the morning session and there is a strength and conditioning session in the evening as well. We are roughly managing to do about 11 sessions in a week. Of course, it's not the same as being out on the court, but we have to make to with what we have. We have to keep ourselves in good shape physically and mentally during the lockdown. DSD: How essential is it not to lose your fitness during this period Gopi? Badminton is an extremely gruelling sport and if you are not hundred per cent it sort of shows on the court. Gopichand: Staying fit is of paramount importance during these times, any players who fail to maintain his or her physical fitness during the lockdown is going to suffer.players often have injuries, when they are not able to do much, but they are still able to do their mental training, visualisation and a little bit of strengthening. Some of these things do not require much space, what you need is a yearning to learn. In terms of the badminton calendar, we don't know what the scenario is or what it will be after in six months or a year. All we can do is that ensure the players are in good physical shape whenever it starts. I've always maintained this mantra, that the 'process is the goal'. So, even during the lockdown, the players must prepare and be ready for the next tournament whenever that may be. DSD: Do you have any sort of an indication as to when the calendar will resume? As things stand even October 2020 seems a stretch especially with long term travel restrictions in place. Gopichand: We can speculate all we want, but I would rather focus on being prepared for whenever tournaments return. The players have to keep busy during the lockdown and train hard every day in whatever capacity they can, that's all we can do at the moment. Action could return in October 2020, or in October 2021, its just speculation at the moment. With or without the lockdown, the process should be the goal. Athletes have to keep themselves motivated and push themselves day in and day out, with whatever resources they have. DSD: At some point, the global calendar will resume but will it fair, I have heard that in a few countries where the virus has been contained practice is on like China and Chinese Taipei and those players will be the main rivals for our players. Gopichand: Sport has never been fair. It is the best of what an athlete can make of whatever circumstances he or she has been given and the players who have the best facilities available to them don't always win. The scenario is also not as bad as some people might think. Right now tournaments have been suspended till July. But if BWF were to announce that tournaments would resume after that, there would be at least a two month notice period for all the players, since the various arrangements would have to be made for travel, accommodation and training. So I think that time is sufficient for players to prepare if their physical fitness has not deteriorated during the lockdown. DSD: Let’s get to the Olympics now and the way things were shaping up would you consider it a positive thing for Indian badminton considering we were probably going to have just 2 entries had the games gone ahead as per schedule. Gopichand: Yes, I think most coaches would have agreed to postpone the games for a year. Last year was extremely hectic and players were hardly getting any time to train, and only a small part of the qualification period was left. Now with the whole year available to the players, it is a good time for them to rest, train and get back. DSD: I must say that I found the BWF leadership during the crisis extremely shoddy. The Olympic qualifying process is sacrosanct and it is four years of toil for a player. I do not think they were being fair by denying opportunities to players with so many cancellations happening. What do you think? Gopichand: The Olympic qualification period was ending in April, and tournaments had been suspended from the second week of March. So there were about eight weeks to go for the qualification period the BWF still hasn't announced the new qualification norms. I would want to see them consider the 44 weeks of the qualification period that had been completed since all the players and coaches assumed that those would form apart of the qualifiers. The rest of the eight weeks that were left should be adjusted, so whatever tournaments that have been lost should take place either next year in March and April or sometime this year. Every tournament that was suspended should be replaced with an equally graded tournament. I would believe that the BWF would be planning something like that, so players won't have to pay for the tournament cancellations. DSD: World Athletics has stopped all Olympic qualifying till December 1. What sort of timelines should the BWF come up with considering that the IOC deadline is June end of 2021? Should there be a 10-tournament swing starting December to decide on the Olympic berths perhaps? Gopichand: I believe that the 44 weeks of the Olympic qualification period that has been completed, should be frozen. In badminton, the Olympic spots are not determined by a particular tournament or event, they are decided by an aggregate number of points. In that kind of scenario, it makes sense to retain he ranking for the already-completed period, and the remaining tournaments that were part of the qualifiers can take place in the same months next year.one of the dangers of this lockdown is that the players who are in a comfortable position to qualify at the moment, might get complacent and not train enough. So because their slot is all but confirmed, those players might not perform at the highest level at the tournaments. I think whatever new qualification norms the BWF announces, it is bound to be criticised by various nations because those countries will look at the process from their own perspective with regards to how the norms will benefit their players' chances of qualification. But I think it is fair to give time to the BWF to decide on the new norms. DSD: Do you also have to recalibrate your approach that has worked so well in the last. Ahead of an Olympics you usually work intensely for two to three months with the players. And it has paid off in London 2012 and Rio 2016. I am not sure you will get that much time for 2021 especially if the qualifying race gets tight. Gopichand: I think the situation is different when compared to the 2008, 2012 or 2016 Olympics, the players are at a different level. We have foreign coaches and specialised event coaches as part of our support staff. So this time my role will be different. I will look at things more closely when the tournament schedule is out and decide on the best plan for each player. DSD: Abhinav Bindra told me a few weeks back that the experienced players will cope with this delay better than the younger ones. For example, this works out very well for Kento Momota who was recovering from that car accident in Malaysia. Is it time for the best minds in Indian sport to get together and chart out a collective way forward. Every sport is currently in its own cocoon but I think when it comes to the mental approach you can learn from shooting, perhaps hockey can be able to share more tips about fitness. Since the Sports Authority of India pays most salaries the ministry can get everyone together for a two to three-day summit. Can that work? Gopichand: I think the next few months will be very critical. Right now the lockdown is till may 3rd, but it could very well be extended. Our athletes might not get tournament exposure for the next few months at least. It will definitely help if top sporting minds come together to work out a plan that will benefit all Indian athletes. It might even be a good idea to look at a quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls from all sports. For example, since inter-city travel is not possible, athletes from the same city can stay at a facility which allows them to train for the upcoming events. We might also have to plan for domestic leagues and tournaments because restrictions in India could be lifted before those of other countries. Since global tournaments would not be taking place, there will be a need to replace those with quality domestic competitions to make up for the loss of international exposure. We are going through an unprecedented crisis, so adjustments need to be made. For example, I had never used a mobile phone application for training, but we are forced to do that now and that has become the norm. So we are looking at different ways to help the players enhance their skills during this lockdown. Adaptability is the key, we have to make quick decisions and think out of the box

Exclusive: 'Might be a good idea to look at quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls' - Pullela Gopichand opens up on  postponed Games and more

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>

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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.

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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.

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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. 
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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

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