80-day wait ends, outdoor arenas to open from Thursday

Nagpur: With the state government allowing outdoor activities, the 80-day wait of fitness enthusiasts will be over on Wednesday. The department heads of various city sports complexes will, however, open their arenas only from Thursday.
Nagpur University (NU) sports department director Sharad Suryawanshi said the complex will be open for individual workouts and training from Thursday morning. Avinash Pund, the newly-appointed deputy director of state sports department, Nagpur division, said they will take “necessary precautions as per guidelines” before allowing outdoor activities at the Mankapur complex on Thursday.
Gates of all the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) gardens that fall outside containment zones will be open for morning walkers from Wednesday morning itself.
Since March 15, all centres for fitness enthusiasts in the city, including the Nagpur University athletics track, Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur, Reshimbagh ground and Ishwar Deshmukh College ground have worn a deserted look. The sudden shutdown compelled morning walkers, amateur and professional sportspersons to start working out from the confines of their homes.
With outdoor activities allowed on Word Bicycle Day, city cyclists are elated. Deepanti Pal, the ‘bicycle mayor’ of Nagpur said, “The long wait will finally be over tomorrow morning. Cycling will be a way of life in the new normal post the Covid-induced lockdown. I have been riding my cycle to buy essential services throughout the lockdown. Tomorrow morning, I will be one among many other cyclists to start fitness activities. As a precaution, I will ride solo and plan to travel 15-20 kilometres on my first day.”
70-year-old Sushila Parihar, a morning and evening walker, is relieved with the relaxation. “The doctor has advised me to go for morning walks regularly. Due to the lockdown, I used to walk on my terrace on the fourth floor, but nothing matches walking in gardens in the morning. I will, of course, take all the necessary precautions while going for walks,” said Sushila, a resident of Corporation Colony.
As a precaution, only 50 people will be allowed at a time inside the NU sports complex. “We had a meeting with the coaches who will be utilizing our arena; strict instructions have been given to them. At a time, only 40 athletes will be allowed for individual training on the track, and they should workout in alternate lanes,” Suryawanshi said.
“Only card holders will be permitted inside the arena, and not more than 50 persons will be given entry. Spectators and group activities will not be allowed. Athletes have been told to bring their own sanitizers, water bottles and spare polythenes in a kit bag to keep used clothes,” he added.