Malaysian national athletes foresee challenging return to training after movement control order
16 April, 2020
Malaysian athletes foresee a challenging go back to regular training after the movement control order (MCO), despite attempts to keep up fitness aware of customised programmes and being creative with limited equipment.
When interviewed by CNA, sailor Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy noted that home-based training would only aid him to keep up his stamina and not gain it.
“Having less endurance will affect (training) following this MCO.
“I would mostly have to gain (back) the abilities on water, as I've spent practically six weeks without water training. It'll be difficult to begin again, especially to get the feeling of being included and used to the surroundings,” the Asian Games silver medalist explained.
Similarly, diver Ng Yan Yee said: “It really is maybe likely to be difficult to return to regular training. It has been quite difficult training in the home without much facilities.”
TRAINING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Regardless of the constraints, the National Sports Council has attemptedto keep up working out tempo for the athletes, with some the help of technology.
The council's athletes division director Jefri Ngadirin told CNA that with all training centres shut, coaches have already been asked to create training programmes for all those under their charge through the home confinement period, that will last until Apr 28.
“Some (athletes) have a single session training just each morning while others have double sessions.
“The coaches are monitoring the athletes via Whatsapp or Zoom calls,” he said, adding that athlete compliance has improved tremendously since the first phase of the MCO.
Under MCO, schools and non-essential companies are closed. People are urged to stay in the home to minimise contact as health authorities rush against the clock to support the spread of the virus.
Several locations with a sizable number of instances were positioned under an increased MCO, which further restricted the residents’ movement.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the MCO will be further extended until Apr 28.
GETTING CREATIVE
Considering limited resources and space, the athletes had to find imaginative methods to workout effectively.
“Coming to home allows me to get innovative with my training plans,” said Ng, who's also an Asian Games silver medalist.
When asked how she was coping without usage of a pool, the diver replied that she used whatever she had to emulate her pool surroundings.
“My training methods include imitation, weight training, headstands, stretching and foam rolling,” she said.
Khairulnizam, the sailor, also said that he is making the very best of the gear he has in the home.
“With the limited equipment, most of the exercise I do is using body weights and resistance bands.
“I have been doing some sailing-specific hiking and sheeting exercise,” he added.
He in addition has asked the National Sports Council for some endurance training equipment, such as a rowing machine.
SMALL NUMBER OF ATHLETES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH DEPRESSION
Although efforts by the sports council have helped the athletes to stay fit in this trying period, it also noted that a small number of them have already been affected by being cooped up in the home.
Jefri told CNA that predicated on a survey done by the council, 97 % of the 712 national athletes were coping well through the MCO period.
“However, about 1.5 per cent of these have told us that these were feeling depressed and pressured from coming to home,” he said.
When asked on the help rendered to the small group, Jefri said the council has arranged for psychological assistance to be made accessible to all 712 athletes.
“They are absolve to call and seek help every time they need,” he said.
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