All training in Sports Authority of India centres has been halted since March, 2020 in lieu of the Covid-19 pandemic before slowly getting back on track in May when the ministry of home affairs in its unlock guidelines allowed sports and sportspersons to resume training for Olympics and paralympics.

The sports ministry, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha, mentioned the 6 important steps that were undertaken to ensure the athletes had a safe and secure return to training and practice.

1. Regular Online Training conducted for athletes by coaches to keep them motivated and fit during lock down period. Athletes were provided with online training module for daily practice.

2. Regular interaction with the athletes was done to boost their morale in these tough times. Seminars and workshops by experts in sports psychology, sports science, nutrition in COVID 19 have been organised to educate athletes about how to cope with stress and depression and focusing on their training.

3. Athletes & Coach Education Programme and Coach Development Programme was conducted.

4.The athletes were provided with necessary sporting equipment to enable them to keep fit. Further, those Olympic bound athletes who could not go back to their places due to lock down were given equipment in their rooms for training in SAI Centres.

5.National Coaching Camps have been resumed for the 2021 Olympic bound athletes. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been formulated for conduct of safe training.

6. One week “Soft Skill Development & Sensitisation” programme and COVID – 19 awareness programme were conducted for athletes.

The sports ministry has also extended contracts of Indian and international coaches keeping in mind the athletes training continuity for Olympics.