Chandigarh-based swimmer Chahat Arora returned to India last week after setting two records in Thailand. Stuck in Thailand since March due to the lockdown proved to be a blessing in disguise for her as she won the 50m and 100m breaststroke event in the Arena Thailand Swimming Championship on October 23.
Chahat Arora trained there under the supervision of expert coaches and said, “There are excellent arrangements made at the swimming pools to protect the sportpersons from Covid.”
Chahat Arora said that two months after reaching Thailand, a lockdown was imposed there due to covid-19. The government had imposed strict rules and there was a fine of 50,000 for not wearing a mask. The swimming pools were closed for two months, but with regulations swimming pools were opened with extreme caution. The swimmer’s body temperature was noted on the computer daily and the pool was sanitised twice a day.
Pools in Chandigarh still closed
All the swimming pools have been closed since the lockdown in City Beautiful. Chahat said that the administration should follow strict rules to protect people from the disease and fine those who don’t wear masks. At the same time, she said that the pools should also be opened with the proper arrangements and initially, only national and international-level players should be allowed to practice.
Chahat, who represents Mohali and Punjab in state and national championships, has won many international championships. Her last year’s performance in the 13th South Asian Games in Nepal, where she had won two gold medals, a silver and created a new short-pool national record.
