Squash players resume training in Chennai, access to cricket facilities remain unavailable

India's top woman squash player Joshna Chinappa on Monday resumed training at ISA courts after facilities reopened after being closed for almost five months due to COVID-19 pandemic. Training at Indian Squash Acemy (ISA) resumed for its elite athletes  with SOPs laid out by Tamil Nu government/Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nu, a press release from national federation SRFI said. Apart from Joshna, ors who practised at ISA were Velavan Senthilkumar, Abhay Singh and itya Raghavan.

Squash players resume training

"It feels good to be back. acemy is a place where I have been training at when am in Chennai since I was a teenr. So, it's nice to be able to play re again. All of us are starting out slowly. Mainly just solo practice for w," Joshna told PTI.

As many as 15 players trained on Monday and only players were allowed to come to venue and t ir family members, said SRFI secretary-general and former national coach Cyrus Poncha. "Everything will be done in a phased manner and will be controlled," Poncha said, ding that only players above of 15 years are allowed to train. Meanwhile, cricketers will have to wait longer to to train as authorities have yet to give d.

Tamil Nu Cricket Association (TNCA) has written to Chennai Corporation, requesting permission to open grounds or at least M A Chidambaram (MAC) stium in city, for practice. TNCA secretary R S Ramasaamy told PTI: "We have written to Corporation seeking permission to open grounds or MAC. re are plans to meet Commissioner of city civic body soon to obtain d needed for it." If Corporation gives go-ahe to open grounds, international and state cricketers from state will be allowed to use nets at MAC. 

Tamil Nu government has extended lockdown to control spre of COVID-19 till August 31 with some relaxations and h recently allowed stiums to reopen without spectators. Tennis players including Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Sasikumar Mukund and ors have been training at SDAT Nungambakkam stium here following all safety protocols, a top TNTA official said. 

Im credits: PTI