Ludhiana: There is an urgent requirement for indoor volleyball courts in the district, players coaches and community are demanding for it. The need is more conspicuous as rainy season begins, which means missed crucial training days. Players and coaches say that nowadays indoor volleyball courts were a necessity to help them train consistently and safely throughout the year, and bring medals at international level, including Olympics. The demand, which has been long pending, has intensified as weather disruptions continue to derail practice schedules at the district volleyball training centre at SCD Government College. According to Gurjot Singh, an international volleyball coach, “Out of 365 days, we lose around 176 to weather disruptions, rains, extreme heat, or cold. That’s nearly half the year gone. How can we expect to win Olympic medals without basic infrastructure like an indoor court?” Currently, over 40 volleyball players from various districts of Punjab, along with school students, train at the centre run by the district sports department. The number is expected to grow to more than 60. However, with only three outdoor courts available, adverse weather conditions halt training entirely.“This is an indoor sport. During rains, the risk of injury increases significantly. The ball gets heavy and court gets slippery when wet. In summers, players are exposed to heat-related health issues, and in winters, the cold makes practice difficult and unsafe,” said Prabhjot Singh, a coach at the centre. He added that outdoor training limits a player’s ability to grasp the indoor-specific skills of the game.tnn
