Lockdown experiences

             David Palmer  Australia’s vast experienced player and coach conducted a webinar for all certified coaches in India.

Palmer outlined four key aspects that are critical to the making of a top player: Technique, fitness, tactical sharpness and mental frame work.  He laid particular emphasis on fitness and having the right mental frame work as essential to winning tournaments.

“I was known as one of the fittest guys on tour during my playing days.  It was something that I took pride in.  In the modern game where the dominance of the Egyptian game has grown, rallies has gone out of the game a little bit.  However, fitness is still paramount for winning tournaments.  To win a tournament, you have to play an average five or six matches.  You have to base your fitness around being able to play back to back matches.  Being mentally strong is equally important.” He said.

Former world No.I David Palmer who own numerous accolades during his carrier including 4 British open titles, is currently head coach at Cornel University in the U. S.  He remembered on his playing days and spoke about the satisfaction he derived from achieving the world No. I ranking. “I was happy,  proud and relieved when I became world No.I.  I had to sacrifice a lot.  I moved away from Australia, when I was 18.  So there was just immense relief that all the hard work paid off.” He said.

                                                                                     Extract from Vivek Krishnan’s report,TOI

            In my hometown, in the south of Spain where I am now, the situation is a bit better compared to the bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona.  

I was playing All England in Birmingham when the Covid alarm bell rang.  After the tournament I was scheduled  to take a flight and come to India for the Indian open.  But it had to be cancelled last minute.  We all flew back to Spain where I stayed quarantined. Then lockdown was imposed in my  country, Spain.

I really wanted Olympics to get postponed as I thought Covid pandemic was not going to be under control by July, 2020.  I was also thinking and following news on the pandemic situation in other countries.  Each country has a different situation regarding the possibility of resuming training at the high- performance centers,  and this was not fair at all.  Hence the postponement was the best way out.

You don’t control the situation and this facts creates a lot of anxiety among the Athletes.  The only thing you want is to come back to your normal life as soon as possible and resume playing. 

I have to do my physical training and practice at home.  I cannot go and practice active badminton on court as it’s not allowed yet.  Everything has changed a lot.  But staying fit is important and of utmost priority and that is what I have been focusing on.

                                                                                                 Extract from Saumyajith Basu interview