COVID-19: Indian boxers must adapt and emerge stronger from crisis - Nieva

The high-performance director of Indian boxing, Santiago Nieva wants the Indian boxers to develop the attitude of a champion amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Santiago Nieva (in picture), Indian boxing's high-performance director, says Indian boxers are better off than many other countries amid the coronavirus crisis

Santiago Nieva, the high performance director of Indian boxing, wants the boxers to adapt and emerge stronger from the present COVID-19 crisis.

Nieva said the boxers should develop the attitude of a champion. "The present situation teaches us the importance of adaptability. Champions are capable of adapting to new situations. We should remain strong and focused. We need to deal with it instead of complaining or getting frustrated," Nieva told Sportstar .

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According to Nieva, India, having booked nine quota places in the Tokyo Olympics, has an advantage. "We are better off than many other countries in Europe and America. We are lucky to have secured a good number of qualifying spots. We just have to refocus when we resume our camp."

Nieva said given the situation the boxers' training was going on well. "We are waiting when we can start our camp properly. Maybe we can do that in a couple of weeks (as soon as the lockdown gets over)."

Nieva was happy that the Indian boxers were accepting the situation and using their time well.

"We have to be positive. We have more time now to prepare, which is excellent." Nieva, who conducted an online 'Train the trainers' programme for boxing coaches on Friday, said COVID-19 had its contribution in such an effort.

"Such online courses have been going on internationally by other federations, schools, colleges and universities. This (pandemic) has hurried it (the process of starting here). In future, we need to do this as well," said Nieva.