Training for India at a private gym

The national camp begins at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday but guess where the players will pump iron? At a private gymnasium in Connaught Place, for which they will be provided passes, reports Shubhodeep Chakravarty.

It’s the pass that’ll make the difference between a fit and a fat India hockey squad.

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The national camp begins at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday but guess where the players will pump iron?

At a private gymnasium in Connaught Place, for which they will be provided passes. That’s because the gymnasium at the stadium isn’t ready and won’t be before the World Cup starts here on February 28.

To get around the problem, the Sports Ministry opted for private enterprise some five kilometres away from the stadium.

“All arrangements have been made to take the players to a private gymnasium so that they can continue with their training programme,” said Prabir Krishn, joint-secretary with the Sports Ministry.

The players will travel in a luxury coach for their workouts.

“As long as proper arrangements are put into place, I do not think the location of a gym should be a problem,” said national team forward Prabhjot Singh.

“We have a weekly training programme designed by our trainer. Even if the gymnasium at the stadium is not ready, a fully functional substitute should not pose too many problems,” said Deepak Thakur, another forward.

Budgeted at Rs 50 lakh, the gymnasium at the stadium will take another month to be completed, said an official of the ministry.

Teams for the World Cup will use the hotel gymnasium.