The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe. The future looks uncertain and all plans have gone awry.
Amid the gloom all around, the virus does bring a flicker of hope for some. Like it does for heptathlete Swapna Barman.
The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to July-August 2021 comes as a boon to the Jakarta Asian Games gold medallist.
2019 was a year in which Swapna has struggled with injuries. She has not been able to reach anywhere near her personal best of 6026 aggregate points and instead been hovering near the 6000 mark.
So, is she breathing a sigh of relief with this extra window that life has thrown her way?
“Well yes, in some ways I do look on the postponement positively,” Swapna told The Telegraph from Jalpaiguri where she is now with her family.
“There were some injury setbacks and this break gives me more time to recover, a better chance to qualify.”
During this period of lockdown, the Arjuna awardee has been carrying on with her exercises and workouts inside the house, “the same routine that I was doing at SAI” and being very strict about her diet. “No potatoes, no tele bhaja for me at all,” she smiles.
“It is but natural that the postponement will cause a mental setback for many who were ready and raring to go but keeping the bigger picture in mind, this is the best that could have happened. For, health comes before everything else.”
The 23-year-old is also doing her bit to help the poverty-stricken in these difficult times. She distributed rice grains, pulses and potatoes to 500 families in and around Jalpaiguri, her humble effort to give back something to the society.
The International Olympic Committee has set June 29, 2021, as the new deadline for the qualification period for the Olympics and the revised sport entries deadline has now been set for July 5, 2021.
Swapna’s coach Subhash Sarkar, too feels that the postponement will benefit his ward.
“Swapna’s preparation had started late as she was carrying injuries. To prepare for an event like the Olympics, you need a clear, uninterrupted 6-7 months of training. Hence the additional time will be to her benefit. We now have the scope to think afresh and plan anew. As we all know, rest is the best medicine. So, this period of interruption is for Swapna a blessing in disguise.”
“The qualifying norm for heptathlon at the Olympics is very high (6420 aggregate). Only 5-6 heptathletes in the world now have hit that mark. In the last 15-odd years, only three women from Asian countries have crossed the 6000-mark — Ekaterina Voronina of Uzbekistan, Wang Qingling of China and Swapna. However, the top 24 heptathletes in the world will make the Olympic cut, depending on their performance in the qualifiers. Hence I feel Swapna has a fair chance to make it,” Sarkar explained.
There will be several tournaments next year — Federation Cup, Inter-state, Open Nationals, Asian Championships (which is scheduled for June 2021, but keeping the Olympics in view, is likely to be advanced), to help Swapna attain the qualifying mark. However, Sarkar intends to push her for the international meets as those would give her better exposure and help her get used to other climates.
For now, Swapna’s plate is full. The Asian athletics and Olympics in 2021 will be followed by the World Athletics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2022 when Swapna will have to decide which ones she wants to participate in.
No, Swapna has no time to brood on the sullen present. Focused, she looks ahead with hope and optimism.
