Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) has taken an initiative to help children between the ages of 5-9 remain tuned to sport climbing while at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Instructors conduct training virtually, from 4 pm to 5.30 pm.

TSAF’s senior manager Hemant Gupta said the objective behind the online training was to keep the children connected to sport climbing.

“Kids are learning the tricks of the game at home. Parents are also appreciating the move from our side,” he added.

Wooden boards called ‘monkey boards’ measuring 2x2 ft have been handed over to the children and fixed at their respective homes.

“The boards have different holding bars which the kids catch for upper body movement. The activity strengthens hand and core muscles, which are key elements when it comes to sport climbing,” Gupta, an Everester, said.

Eleven children are part of the virtual training and the numbers will increase in the days to come.

The training involves beginners who were part of outdoor training at a cradle run by the premier Jamshedpur-based adventure outfit at JRD Tata Sports Complex.

The outdoor training was discontinued owing to the nationwide lockdown but some trainees, including international climbers Anisha and Aman Verma, had sweat it out when the JRD Tata Sports Complex re-opened.

However, the sports hub is presently shut since it was made a Covid centre by the district administration a few days back.

The online trainees work on the guidance of instructors. They also do physical exercises like walking and lunges, knee jumps and push-ups.

“Depending on the height of the trainee, the monkey board is fixed at least half a foot above him on the wall. Such type of home training is not conducted elsewhere in India,” a TSAF instructor said, adding only hands are used for training.

In foreign countries, climbers set up expensive sport climbing holes inside their homes, which is not possible in India.

Parents also appreciated the move by TSAF.

“When my daughter Aditi couldn’t go to JRD Tata Sports Complex for regular practice, the monkey board provided by TSAF became a real rescue. It not only keeps her engaged and connected with sport climbing but also helps in strengthening her muscles,” said Amit Modak, a Tata Steel employee and a parent.

TSAF has three separate holes for lead, speed and bouldering categories of climbing at its cradle.

Training is conducted by experienced coaches.

The outfit has plans to set up a sport climbing academy on the lines of Tata Football Academy.

The craze for sport climbing among children has increased as the city has hosted open nationals, zonal and state events for sport climbing.

Ambitious plans to prepare climbers for big-ticket competitions have so far produced three internationals in the form of siblings Anisha and Aman Verma, and Talim Ansari.

The siblings have also been provided accommodation at the Sports Hostel inside JRD Tata Sports Complex so that they can get a proper diet and concentrate on the game.