Five months of being away from the pool has caused a change in priorities for one of India’s most accomplished swimmers, Virdhawal Khade.

The 2010 Asian Games bronze-winner opted out of a training camp in Dubai for Olympic hopefuls, making it clear that he intends to focus on his job in Maharashtra government. The 29-year-old said he will return to the sport only after pools in India reopen.

“I am not retiring. Whenever pools open in India I will be back to training. I am still working out at home, keeping myself fit. I am happy with the fact that I can commit more time to work and family and prepare myself beyond swimming,” he said.

Swimmers in the country have not been able to enter the water since March 25, when the first coronavirus-forced lockdown was announced, forcing the national federation (SFI) to organise the two-month camp in Dubai.

Khade said he was desperate to return to training till June but began to lose motivation after that.

“I haven’t trained for five months. I went from being the fittest I have ever been in my life to absolute zero,” Khade said.

“Five months is a long time. Until June I was really positive, I was keeping myself fit and keeping focus mentally but after that I went on a really negative spiral. I started questioning myself,” he added.