It’s back to individual training for members of the Kayod Pilipinas national squash team, in accordance with the quarantine protocols of the National Capital Region Plus bubble which is currently under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The squash courts that are supposed to serve as the main training grounds of the Philippine squashers are still under construction at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. Given this, the players are taking on different approaches to maintain their physical and mental condition.
Top Philippine men’s squash player Robert Garcia shared with PTV Sports his own way of working out while proper preparations are on hold and on-court training is limited.
“Palagi akong nanonood ng mga previous games ko sa ibang bansa, at the same time ng professional squash, para pagbalik ko, parang halos nai-imagine ko na nakakapaglaro pa rin ako. So para na rin akong nagte-training sa loob ng court [I often watch my previous games that I played abroad, and professional squash at the same time, so when I come back, I can almost imagine that I played. So it’s almost like I trained on a court.],” Garcia said.
Garcia added that this is one way he keeps himself sharp, particularly now that he feels under-trained.
“Para sa akin, sobrang laki ng nawawala sa amin simula nang pumasok ‘yung pandemic… Soon, sana maging maayos na rin ‘to lahat [For me, we have been losing so much ground since the pandemic started…. I hope that all will be well soon],” Garcia said.
Once the ECQ is lifted in NCR Plus, it’s back to on-court training for the Philippine squashers on a court in Muntinlupa.
Report by Paolo Salamatin/JBB-jlo
