Sports complexes in Chandigarh open today
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 31
Bringing some relief for local sportspersons, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore has approved opening of sports complexes, except for swimming pools and gyms, from June 1.
However, sports complexes that were converted into mini-Covid care centres will remain shut till the June-end. Players have been asked to utilise the facility by strictly following Covid-19 protocols.
It’s a welcome step by the Administration considering that several national championships are scheduled after July. The players will get two months to prepare.
“The Administrator has allowed mini-Covid care centres to continue till June-end. He appreciated the good work done by these centres and their commitment to the city,” stated a spokesperson for the UT Administration.
“The complexes will be open for sportspersons of all age groups. The coaches will be asked to follow all Covid-related protocols,” said Tejdeep Singh Saini, Director Sports, UT.
He cleared that all facilities would be open only for professionals and not for members/amateurs/leisure activity players.
Earlier, only sportspersons preparing for the upcoming national or international championships were allowed to use sports complexes.
“It’s a welcome step by the Administration considering that several national championships are scheduled after July. The players will get two months to prepare,” said Amit, a local shuttler.
Sources said before opening, these complexes would be sanitised. The department would take a call tomorrow on whether the complexes should be open once or twice a day.
“The timings totally depend upon the need of coaches and the number of trainees. It’s been almost a month that the complexes have been shut and the focus was just on performing strength conditioning. Players will be eager to carry technical exercises. In such a scenario, the complexes should be allowed to open for twice a day under staggered timings,” said a senior coach.
Some trainees to wait more
As the UT Administrator allowed extension of mini-Covid care centres till June-end, trainees of Sector 34, Sector 43 and Sector 8 sports complexes will have to wait. Out of seven mini-Covid care centres, three are functional at these complexes. The Sector 34 sports complex caters to judo players, Sector 43 caters to gymnasts and Sector 8 is for badminton players. “The players of these facilities will have to wait for another one month due to extension to the care centres. The players of these disciplines will be adjusted at other venues,” said an official.
‘Open swimming pools for vaccinated people’
Members and amateur players, meanwhile, demanded that the swimming pools should be open at least for vaccinated people. “It will help the department in generating revenue and will also help keen sports enthusiasts to carry exercises. Not only pools, but other complexes should also be open for members. All swimming pools, under the department, received tremendous response every year. Since only four months are left for the summers, the department should think over it. It’s been over one year that the pools are closed,” said Arun, a swimming enthusiast.
Facilities open only for professionals
“The complexes will be open for sportspersons of all age groups. The coaches will be asked to follow all Covid-related protocols,” said Tejdeep Singh Saini, Director Sports, UT. He clarified that all facilities would be open only for professionals and not for members/amateurs/leisure activity players.
