The most frequently asked question by sports-persons worldwide in this pandemic-ridden age is: Will the Tokyo Olympics be held next year?

While the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Games organising committee continue to assure that they will, doubts still persist with many.

To gauge the mood prevalent in Japan, it’s over to paddler Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, who is currently in Tokyo, playing for the Okayama Rivets in the J League.

“Japan is all geared up for the Olympics,” Sathiyan told The Telegraph. “Preparations are going on at full throttle, the athletes are all pumped up and so are the government and organisers…There are Tokyo Olympics posters and video billboards everywhere, signs and pointers too. The predominant mood is that the Olympics will happen next year.

“As for the pandemic, Tokyo seems well under control. People are thronging the streets, restaurants are packed, shopping malls and metros overflowing with people. There seems to be no indication of fear for the virus anywhere. Though, of course, people are strictly following all norms — maintaining social distancing, wearing masks. Everyone is extremely disciplined, as we know the Japanese to be.

“I went to the Odaiba Marine Park (where the 15.3m tall and 32.6m wide Olympic rings are currently on display). All of this has done a great job in building up my mood. I am, you can say, Olympic-ready,” laughs Sathiyan.

Ranked No. 37 in the world, Sathiyan and Sharath Kamal (ranked 32) are set to make the cut for the Games.

As for the J league, it has been a great learning experience so far for Sathiyan. “Here five of the world’s top ten paddlers are playing and I am quite the underdog, unlike in the Polish Liga (in October) where I was the favourite. Training with these players is helping my game immensely. Though being played without spectators, there’s amazing energy in the league.

“With the level of players that I am playing with, this is the best preparation I can ask for in a pre-Olympic year. I am totally into the mood for the Games…”

And not only for the Games, there’s another reason why Sathiyan wants to be back next year.

“The food is to die for! In my previous visits, I have stayed in the hotels and tasted only hotel food but this time I have been trying out all the local cuisine — everything from sushi to ramen and Japanese curries. It’s the best food I’ve ever had…Oh I am absolutely in love with Japan,” he laughs.

The language sure is a problem for the 27-year-old. But the club here has gifted him a Pocketalk, a device which translates in seconds. “It has been a big help, for except for a few players, almost none can speak in English, not even my team coach,” said the Arjuna awardee.

He is extremely thankful to the club for arranging a special work visa permit for him, since Japan is not granting tourist visas.

So is there nothing in Japan that he finds fault with? “Almost nothing, honestly. Except for the very small hotel rooms. Space, as we know, is a problem in Japan and that makes me wonder how they will handle the social distancing factor when hordes descend during the Games,” said Sathiyan, who will be in Japan for another 10 days.