During their three-day on-arrival quarantine, the Indian contingent will be allowed to train, but they will not be allowed to meet competitors from other nations during the tough quarantine.

The Indian contingent travelling from New Delhi would be required to update its health status on the Organising Committee's health app seven days before to departure.

Deputy Chef de Mission Prem Verma said on Friday that India's Olympic-bound athletes who are already training abroad and are slated to fly to Tokyo directly from their existing locations will not be subjected to the additional restrictions imposed on those travelling from the nation.

On Friday, athletes and support staff from Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Boxing, and Wrestling attended the Life in Tokyo opening session.

During their three-day on-arrival quarantine, the Indian contingent will be allowed to train, but they will not be allowed to meet athletes from other countries during the hard quarantine.

"Indian athletes preparing for the Games overseas and reaching Tokyo directly would not face the restrictions applicable to those who have been residing in India for 14 days before departure," Verma was quoted as saying by the Sports Authority of India in a statement.

This will most likely favour shooters in Croatia and Italy, as well as elite wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, tennis ace Sania Mirza, and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.

Group 1 nations with critical COVID-19 situations include India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The Indian contingent travelling from New Delhi would be required to upload its health status on the Organising Committee health app seven days before to departure, as well as negative RT-PCR findings from approved labs, 96 and 72 hours prior to departure.

“The Tokyo Olympics Organising Committee has added a number of towns throughout the country to the list of approved laboratories for COVID-19 tests”, Verma further stated. 

Verma reminded the athletes and support staff that the Tokyo OC had satisfactorily resolved a number of issues raised by the IOA.

Aside from that, the Tokyo-bound contingent will also engage in three modules of sensitization workshops titled "Life in Tokyo, Playing Clean, and From India with Pride."

Life in Tokyo discusses how to prepare for travel a fortnight before departure, as well as the formalities that must be done before to departure, including as vaccinations and anti-bodies test findings.

Badminton player PV Sindhu, ace paddler Sharath Kamal, fencer Bhavani Devi, and equestrian athlete Fouaad Mirza were among the athletes who attended the first 'Playing Clean module,' an anti-doping workshop held by authorities from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on Thursday.

SAI DG Sandip Pradhan commended the athletes, coaches, and support personnel for being devoted to their training for the Olympic Games at the formal launch on Friday. 

The members of the group, he said, were the country's brand ambassadors and a source of national pride.

"It is important that we understand the protocols laid down by the organising committee. The Olympic Games is being held under different circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is the duty and responsibility of each member of the contingent to feel comfortable and safe in the environment," Pradhan said.

Around 100 athletes from India have already qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

News Source Credits: PTI(Press Trust of India)