Srikakulam: Covid-19 hits sports training camps

Srikakulam: The outbreak of Covid-19 has affected the world of sport like never before. In the wake of coronavirus induced lockdown, the summer sports training camps and games have been not permitted.

Every year, summer training camps for sports and games are being conducted across the district to identify and groom the urban and rural talent among candidates.

These training camps and events are being conducted during summer holidays in 40 events like handball, volleyball, kho-kho, kabaddi, swimming, archery, football, cricket, tennis, weightlifting, running, hockey, boxing, badminton, netball, cycling.

These training camps and events are mainly being conducted at district headquarters and revenue division headquarters. Candidates who come up with extraordinary performance in these events are being selected for district-level sports and games meet, state-level events and national-level events.

State government is allotting about Rs 20 lakh every year to organise these sports and games training events in the district.

As part of it, nutritious food is also provided for the candidates and coaches also paid remuneration for providing training to the candidates.

"Every year during summer holidays my son trained in tennis and badminton events. But this year it is not possible due to Covid lockdown," stated a parent Tammineni Anuradha, a resident of Srikakulam city to The Hans India.

"As part of lockdown, the government did not permitted to conduct sports and games events and training camps this year," District Sports Development Officer B Srinivasa Kumar told this newspaper.