Chandigarh Sports Dept plans pending championships in coming months

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 11

After opening most of the sports complexes, the UT Sports Department is now planning to conduct pending championships in the coming months to provide major relief to sportspersons.

If the Covid cases dip further in the coming months, the department may announce its annual sports calendar. However, the authorities are in no mood to take any risk and will assess the pandemic before announcing any major championship.

“Yes, plans are being made to start conducting championships in the coming months. The second wave of Covid-19 has hit the country hard and the authorities are in no mood to take any risk. Even sports complexes were allowed to open with extra caution. This department is one of the most revenue-making units of the UT Administration, but it is not bothered about generating revenue right now,” said an official.

Besides the Sports Department, local sports associations are also planning to conduct championships from the next month.

“Some associations had conducted championships after the restrictions were lifted in the first phase of the lockdown. However, future planning was hit by the second wave. Things are moving in the right direction as of now. Hopefully, the associations will start conducting senior championships following Covid protocols. Several private organisations have already started conducting events, but they are organising these to earn a quick buck. We cannot do that as our aim is different and we have to follow guidelines,” said a senior official.

After the first wave of the pandemic, the Sports Department was really keen on conducting tournaments to fill-in the gap. Schedule was made and approval was also taken from the higher authorities, but the second wave took destroyed all planning.

“We have to restart the planning again. It will take time. The complexes were opened recently and players will take time to regain their form. Till then, we are looking ahead to complete the paperwork,” said another official.

Besides conducting annual age groups and other championships, the department holds cash-prize competitions. In the last session, the department did not organise summer camps for local trainees.