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In short, will sports and watching sports be the same again in a world marked by the COVID-19 pandemic?
In search of answers to these questions, the PTI sports team contacted some of India’s greatest athletes, current and former, who gazed at the crystal ball and predicted the future of sports once the action resumed.
The responses were a mixture of fear and optimism. Here is a look at his thoughts:
SACHIN TENDULKAR (one of the best cricketers in India):
Without a doubt, the world is going through the greatest challenge of our lives. I think players will be cautious for a while when it comes to using saliva (to make the ball shine). It will play in their minds.
Crashes of five and hugging your teammates will be avoided for some time. This is what I would like to believe. For starters, they will be aware and can maintain social distance.
ABHINAV BINDRA (India’s first and only individual Olympic gold medalist):
Sport is a tool that unites people and brings joy to thousands of participants and spectators from all over the world. Although aspects of the more secure protocols will be integrated in the foreseeable future, the need and attraction of sport will not diminish.
As the general population has become more aware of their health and physical well-being, ways to use sport to improve fitness will grow.
The post-COVID-19 world could be a blessing in disguise for India. There may not be as much foreign exposure and this may allow India to build adequate sports infrastructure.
BAJRANG PUNIA (world silver medalist fighter):
Wrestling is a contact sport. When the fight resumes, there is no way to avoid physical contact. But I don’t think there is any doubt. I don’t see any change happening.
The only thing that can happen is that the sport becomes more intense. All athletes will return after a long time. They are not used to such long breaks. We are all analyzing our weaknesses and strengths, so when the tournaments resume, the competition will be intense.
MC MARY KOM (six-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist):
We all hope and pray desperately for things to return to normal, but can they ever? Of course, no. This virus is an enemy that no one fully understands. Sports will change. Mine is a contact sport and I am personally concerned with how we are going to deal with it. At the moment, I don’t see any combat in training, at least I would be totally against it.
I think the training itself will become very individualistic. As for the fans, they will look again, I don’t see any problems there. But yes, the level of hygiene in tournaments will rise to another level.
I think once a vaccine is developed things can go back to the way they were before, but until then, traveling will be less frequent, training won’t be exactly a team and tournament thing, I don’t know how they will resume.
VIJENDER SINGH (first and so far the only male boxer to win an Olympic medal):
I don’t think it’s that easy to bring fans back, it shouldn’t be because I think people should be cautious, but India is an unpredictable country, kuch bhi ho sakta hai yahan (anything is possible here). People have been home for so long that they could head to the stadium at the first opportunity.
Logic demands that they become more cautious. Athletes will be more cautious, certainly training abroad will not be that easy, fewer tournaments will happen and every time they happen I am not sure what participation would be like.
BHAICHUNG BHUTIA (former Indian soccer captain):
In today’s age, when television and digital platforms have become such an important part of our lives, I don’t think the lack of spectators in stadiums has a great influence when it comes to business. I watch television and the digital gain from this.
Sports events will gradually return to what they were before. They can be kept behind closed doors for now. Until the moment a vaccine comes out, I don’t think they can have people inside, since it involves many risks.
B SAI PRANEETH (first Indian male badminton player to win a world bronze medal in 36 years):
We have to travel a lot and I think everyone will be afraid to travel to countries like China, Korea and even to European countries, even if the international calendar resumes.
The fear of contracting the virus will always be present in the back of your mind, even when you are eating at any restaurant or even playing. I don’t know how it would even be possible to play taking into account the fact that during a match the players and the service judge touch the shuttle.
Also, as you play, you change your sweat-soaked shirt, so I think only after getting the shot, the game can start, but even so, you will see people wearing masks and trying to avoid crowded places to be safe.
MAHESH BHUPATHI (Multiple Slam Winning Former Tennis Player):
Sport will not change. Things will be normal once COVID-19 disappears.
JEJE LALPEKHLUA (Best Indian soccer player):
It will take a little time to get back to normal, but once things are normal, we won’t be afraid to participate.
As we travel and move between flights, hotels, and cities, we just need to be more careful and take care of ourselves and others.
JOSHNA CHINAPPA (Best Squash Player):
I think I will have to be very careful on flights as they are the main germ carriers in the world. There will be a new normal for sure. Passing airports will also be much more difficult.
My first instinct after the game is to shake hands with the opponent, but now things can change there too.
SARDAR SINGH (former captain of the men’s hockey team):
From the point of view of the Olympic preparations, the positive point is that the team will have more time to prepare for the Olympic Games, but the negative is that it will have to review its plans.
Once sports are resumed, social distancing will be the new norm and it remains to be seen how it is implemented in contact sports such as boxing, wrestling or, in fact, hockey and soccer, where close encounters and bodily contacts.
KONERU HUMPY (World Rapid Chess Champion and India No.1):
Outdoor games with spectators are not safe and will not be easy to organize over the next year. In my opinion, we should show some patience.
D HARIKA (India’s No.2 female chess player):
It will definitely take some time to recover or travel. It could affect many athletes, since almost a year ends in life, but I think that sports will work again without any problem … maybe in six months to a year.
