India javelin thrower Annu Rani, who is quarantined at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, wants to make the most of the enforced break and work on her game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
With the Tokyo Olympics being postponed for the 1st time in history, the lives of players, and their favourite sports have been brought to a virtual standstill with the outbreak shutting down a series of sports all across the globe. However, Annu Rani is determined to focus on the positives of the enforced break.
Annu Rani became the first Indian woman javelin thrower to qualify for the final round of the World Championships as she registered a throw of 62.43 at the IAAF World Athletics Championships last year, bettering her own national record throw of 62.34m.
Speaking to indiatoday.in, Annu, who is seen as India's biggest hope in the women's javelin throw, said that she will improve her distance throw and prepare herself in such a way to bag a medal at Tokyo Olympics.
"Tokyo Olympics postponement was a sad news for all players but I will see it as a positive as it gives me a good chance and more time to prepare. Now, I have got time, I will ensure I improve my distance throw, work on my fault and prepare myself so that I can bag a medal," Annu said.
Annu Rani laments not being able to train outside but is focusing on some core exercises to keep her fit amid the lockdown. Annu is in the girls' hostel at the National Institute of Sport (NIS) in Patiala, Punjab, where she has been since her return from Potchefstroom, South Africa along with Vipin Kasana, Arshdeep Singh and coach Uwe Hohn.
"There is a small area near our hostel, barely 30 to 35 metres wide grass ground. I do a few of the core exercises, such as rope skipping and training with medicine balls. I am also doing weight training as there are some weights with us. I normally do 2 hour workout session with the weights to keep up my fitness levels," Annu added.
"Whenever we train outside, our training sessions are long like each day we train for 3-4 hours in the morning then 3-4 hours in the evening. We take our diet according to the training regime, the routine is also based accordingly but right now everything has changed. We can't take that diet as the body weight might increase.
Annu Rani explained that she has been reading Swami Vivekananda books and watching inspirational videos of Cristiano Ronaldo to keep herself motivated amid the lockdown.
"I've been reading a book by Swami Vivekananda. I like inspirational stories and try to find things like this on YouTube also. I watch videos of big players such as Cristiano Ronaldo as he is a brilliant athlete and a person and watching him helps me improve as a sportsperson," she explained.