With some of the southern districts recently lifting the restriction on sporting activities, sports enthusiasts in Samtse are also hoping for the same. More than three months have passed since the restriction on sporting activities was imposed in May due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in the southern region.
The sporting facilities such as the Artificial Football ground have remained idle for a long time now. Natural grasses have also started to grow on the artificial pitch. With no other recreational activities available in the district, people now worry that residents, especially the youth, might resort to illegal activities such as doing drugs.
Tashi Jamtsho, a resident of Samtse says he sees a lot of children loitering around the town and the reason they do so is that they do not have anything else to do to keep them engaged.
“With sporting facilities closed due to COVID-19, they say they don’t have other opportunities to keep themselves active. All they do is hang out with friends at town and drink alcohol and smoke,” he said.
A sports enthusiast himself, Santosh Ghalley says it has been too long without any sports.
“Many sports enthusiasts like me and others have been simply staying idle without any sporting activity for quite a time now. If all sports are allowed, youth will not engage in substance abuse,” he said.
Residents also say given the possibilities of frequent lockdown in the southern areas, the concerned agencies should also look to introduce new and stricter SOPs to ensure sporting activities are not affected as in the last few years.
Meanwhile, non-contact sports such as badminton and tennis are allowed. However, sports lovers claim not many people play those games due to the lack of proper facilities. In the meantime, some of the residents are keeping themselves active by going for morning and evening walks.
The Samtse Dzongkhag COVID-19 Task Force, however, says the lifting of the sporting restriction will depend solely upon the situation in the region. However, they informed that they are currently discussing the matter with the National Task Force.
Passang Dorji, BBS, Samtse
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
