☰

India's athletes-turned-cops help wage war against coronavirus on streets

By Web Desk

March 27, 2020

While the novel coronavirus-caused lockdown has confined most of the athletes and sports superstars to their homes, there is a rare breed that is still out and about, helping fight the pandemic battle on the streets.

Three such sports personalities are from the neighbouring India, where the norm still is for the government institutions to employee sports stars.

Joginder Sharma, to whom Misbah-ul-Haq needlessly gifted his wicket in the final of the 2007 World T20, is among the select few athletes who are out in trenches in the big battle against COVID-19.

“I have been a DSP since 2007. This is one of a kind challenge for me as a police officer because of the general fear and I can tell you that I have seen quite a few challenges in my years of service,” said Sharma who played just four T20Is for India but still managed to make a name, thanks to Misbah’s ill-advised scoop shot when the win and World Cup glory was in sight.

READ: Aleem Dar's restaurant offers free food to jobless amid coronavirus crisis

With India also under a lockdown, Sharma has been posted in Hisar. In an interview with Indian news agency PTI, he revealed how his fame helps him convince people.

"They respect me for my achievement and sometimes it helps my work when they see my nameplate. When I tell people to not crowd markets for cheap deals, they adhere. I tell them how costly it would be if they catch this infection, that they should not risk a deadly disease for saving a few bucks,” he said.

Another such Indian athlete is boxer Akhil Kumar, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist known for his open guard boxing stance.

“People are generally cooperative and in any case, essential services are being kept open so there is not much panic. I believe only a strict enforcement of lockdown will be able to halt this virus. People are slowly understanding this,” Kumar, now an officer with Gurugram Police, said.

Kumar, with the help of some friends, has also been donating supplies to the needy.

"We are trying our best. Those who can afford to stay inside can and must but there are those who cannot. Our effort is to ensure that we reach out to as many of such people as possible," he said, adding that since he came from humble backgrounds he has an idea of what the people could be going through.

Kumar, used to giving beatings for a living inside the cage, said authorities will have to be tougher against those who do violate the lockdown despite knowing the risks.

“There are some who genuinely don't know but there are others who come out despite knowing what it means. I think they should be dealt with sternly, that's the only language they understand,” he said.

A third such athlete-cum-cop is Indian kabaddi star Ajay Thakur, who was pictured patrolling the streets and urging people to “stay home, save lives”.