After the 2021 version was canceled as a result of pandemic, Tata Open Maharashtra is again on the ATP calendar for the upcoming season. South Asia’s solely ATP 250 occasion is about to start on January 31, a day after the Australian Open ended.
Tournament director Prashant Sutar says, “It has been a very long time and gamers additionally at all times prefer to journey to Pune, so it’s welcome.
Important for the resumption of the occasion in India are the Covid-19 security protocols that the organizers should put in place earlier than the gamers attain Pune. The most vital directive to the ATP was that gamers shouldn’t be pressured into 14-day quarantine upon touchdown in India.
“(ATP) put down the protocol for security, which we will be able to follow easily. What they wanted to know was whether the players would have to be quarantined. There will be no need for quarantine,” Sutar tells The Indian Express.
The want for quarantine was the primary motive why the ATP occasion was not held in India final yr.
“The ATP wished us to not isolate the gamers. This was one thing the federal government and the town wouldn’t settle for. (Quarantine is obligatory for vacationers from overseas),” Sutar had informed this paper in December 2020.
Although quarantine shouldn’t be required upon touchdown, there’s a huge listing of protocols that should be put so as. Covid testing for starters.
“Players will be tested as soon as they arrive at the hotel, and then again every 72 hours during the tournament,” he says.
“If a player tests positive, he will be immediately shifted to an official Covid hotel for quarantine.”
The query of vaccination necessities was additionally addressed between the organizers and the ATP.
Players usually are not required to vaccinate in Pune.
Recently, the Covid-19 vaccination has been a significant explanation for controversy among the many gamers and organizers of the Australian Open. Victoria state has made it obligatory for gamers to be absolutely vaccinated earlier than arriving in Melbourne for this yr’s first Slam, elevating doubts over world No 1 Novak Djokovic – who has refused to disclose his vaccine standing on the occasion. has refused.
“The only thing that will change will be that they will be tested when they land at the airport – Mumbai or Pune,” explains Sutar.
“If a participant is vaccinated, they won’t should be examined on the airport and may go straight to the resort. But if a participant has not been vaccinated, he should get examined on the airport, clear it after which go to the resort. Tests within the resort are obligatory for all, vaccinated or unvaccinated.
The twenty sixth version of the Indian ATP – which has beforehand been held in New Delhi and Chennai – won’t be held fully closed-door as a most of 500 spectators per day (all of whom should be absolutely vaccinated) will probably be held at Balewadi. will probably be allowed. Sports Complex. However, it will depend on what’s the state of affairs with respect to the pandemic on the shut of the match.
“It is November now, things may change – hopefully it won’t – by the time January and February come. If things get worse by then, in the worst case scenario the tournament will be held in a bubble with no spectators,” Sutar says.
“Right now it is not in a bubble, but heavy protocols. It is not as free as it used to be in previous versions, but at least we are getting it back.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
