Courtesy-Times of India
Following the postponement of the 9th Senior Asian Championships due to the pandemic, Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics by obtaining the Asian continental quota for the Games. She had previously been a reserve behind Sri Lanka’s Elpitiya Badalge Dona Milka Geh, but both will now compete in the meet.
However, with the second COVID-19 outbreak causing a slaughter in India, most sporting facilities in the country have been closed down. Many Tokyo-bound athletes are battling to prepare for the mega-event, like Pranati Nayak, who trains at the SAI (Sports Authority of India) in Kolkata.
Nayak hardly trained for a couple of weeks last year while the SAI was open, only to have it shut down with the arrival of the second COVID-19 wave. However, according to the most recent rumors, the SAI has granted her special permission to train at their campus despite the state’s tight lockdown.
I am the only athlete now staying in the hostel inside the campus. I have been provided with a masseur and my physiotherapist madam is also here along with my coach Lakhan Sharma,” Pranati Nayak told the TOI, on Tuesday.
With no way to practice during the shutdown, the gymnast returned to her hometown of Midnapore last year, where she attended online sessions. She returned to the city in December, stayed with family, and started training at several clubs arranged by her coach.
“I returned to the city last December and stayed at different relatives’ places then. Then I started training at various local clubs as arranged by sir (coach). I am now back to my usual 46-47 kg weight and feeling quite fresh,” Pranati added.