Much to the relief of snooker owners in Samtse, the restriction on operating snooker in the district has been lifted. While the restriction on all sporting activities was lifted last month, snooker and gym in Samtse continued to remain closed considering the high risk of transmission of the virus from these areas.
Snooker owners and snooker enthusiasts in Samtse finally breathed a sigh of relief as the snooker halls were allowed to open since Friday. Due to the pandemic, snooker halls in the district have remained closed since April this year.
Sonam Lepcha, a resident said, “It is great news for us as a player. I have been playing snooker since 2010. It has been closed for seven to eight months now. Now that it is allowed, we are extremely happy to come forward and play this game and promote the business as well.”
“It has been more than seven months that we had difficulty in paying the rents. Whatever we had saved during the last few years had all been used to pay the rents of the snooker hall,” said Sonam Dorji Lepcha, a snooker owner.
As per the Samtse COVID-19 Task Force’s directives, only five individuals including the owner are allowed in a snooker hall. People will have to use Druk Trace App, maintain physical distancing and wash hands.
Samtse Dzongkhag today has three snooker halls.
Meanwhile, the only gym facility in the district however will continue to remain closed as it is located in a quarantine facility.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sangay Chezom
