Toxic Air Wake-Up Call: Paralympians Reveal Training Struggles in Polluted Delhi
Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil and Gajendra Singh, husband and coach of Paralympics bronze medalist Simran Sharma, have spoken out about the severe pitfalls of training outdoors under Delhi's thick layer of air pollution. Their testimonies highlight a growing crisis for athletes in the National Capital Region, where shrinking training windows due to toxic winters and searing summers are compromising health and performance.
Training Windows Shrink as Pollution and Heat Intensify
The window for athletes to train is rapidly shrinking in and around the National Capital Region because of toxic air in winter and searing summers. As India makes a pitch for the 2036 Olympics, concerns are mounting about the impact of these harsh conditions on athletic preparation. International badminton stars, in Delhi last week for the India Open, have already complained to the International Olympic Committee about air pollution, citing serious health concerns.
Sumit Antil's Battle with High AQI Levels
Sumit Antil, a two-time Paralympic and three-time world para champion in javelin throw, writes from his training base in Sonepat. "My training base is Sonepat but this place also has bad AQI. In winters, though most of the training happens indoors for javelin throwers as it is the off season. But when we do practice throws outdoors, we face the issue," he explains.
Antil details the physical toll: "It does have an effect on our body as well as health. We get tired and recovery is slower when we train outdoors." To cope, his focus has shifted to training indoors and using air purifiers as much as possible. However, he notes, "I have to spend 24 hours in the high AQI levels, both indoor or outdoor."
His strategies include:
- Increasing intake of Vitamin C and antioxidants in the diet.
- Building a new indoor training facility to escape the heat, which touches 44-46 degrees in summer.
- Adjusting training sessions to late evening or early morning to avoid peak temperatures.
Antil adds, "While the body gets warmed up quickly in summers, the high intensity training means that we sweat a lot and we have to ensure proper hydration."
Simran Sharma's Health Struggles: Vomiting and Coughing
Gajendra Singh, coach of Paralympics bronze medalist Simran Sharma, shares alarming details about the impact on sprinters. "For sprinters like Simran, the pollution levels take a toll on the body. In training when we do 300-metre easy sprints under 42 seconds, it results in a lot of stress on the body," he writes.
The consequences are severe: "And when we do such repeated sprints, Simran vomits and also keeps coughing for a long time. These are symptoms that most sprinters and athletes face, but that's Delhi. We have been training here for a long time."
Singh points out a bitter irony: "When Simran competes abroad, she performs well in good AQI conditions because she has trained in polluted air. Yes, it's a huge disadvantage in these months, but there is nothing we can do."
To mitigate the effects, they rely on:
- Monitoring AQI data via mobile apps or handheld meters to plan training.
- Focusing on diet, particularly including alkaline foods like broccoli.
- Ensuring the body copes with weather conditions without hampering training.
A Call for Action as India Eyes 2036 Olympics
These firsthand accounts from elite athletes underscore a critical issue as India prepares to host major sporting events. The combination of air pollution and extreme heat is not just an inconvenience but a serious health hazard that affects recovery, performance, and well-being. With athletes forced to adapt through indoor training, dietary changes, and schedule adjustments, the need for sustainable solutions in urban training environments has never been more urgent.
