Still no takers for sports goods

Nagpur, Oct 26

Although the other sectors like automobile and realty are back on track after lockdown, the sports goods sector which is badly hit has not witnessed any improvement during the Unlock process.

Even in the critical situation the city sports goods shop owners are somehow managing to run their business. During the summer (the peak season for sports), their business was badly affected due to lockdown. The shop owners expected that their business will return to normalcy once the lockdown is lifted. But that has not happened. According to shop owners the main reason behind it is the closure of indoor halls and academies. Talking to Lokmat Times Yogesh Thadani of Sports Link said, " In Nagpur, cricket and badminton are the main games that generate revenue for us but the indoor halls are closed since the lockwon was enforced in March and the cricket academies are not yet started fully. Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) has also stopped all their activities. That is the reason why there is no demand for sports goods in the city", he said.

Thadani said during summer they managed to sell carom boards, chess boards and health equipment but that is not enough to sustain. Harsh Verma, the proprietor of India Sports has also echoed the similar views. "Since the last six months there is no improvement in our business and the main reason behind it is the closure of educational institutions. In general this is the peak season of DSO tournaments and VCA activities but that are on hold. We are somehow selling outdoor badminton racquets, tennis balls and racquets and gym equipment. Now since the gyms have started from Monday, there will be no demand for these equipment," he said

Verma said to improve their immunity nowadays people have become health conscious. Therefore during lockdown the fitness equipment like trademill, dumbbells were in good demand and that helped the shop owners to manage the business.

Since the indoor and outdoor sports activities are on hold,cycling has attracted fitness conscious people. As a result the sale of bi-cycles has increased in the last five, six months. Aniruddha Raich who has initiated cycling culture in Nagpur and runs ''Ncyclopedia'' said, " The sale of bi-cycles has definitely increased in the last few months and there are two, three reasons behind it. To avoid the infection of coronavirus, the people have become fitness conscious and are inclined towards cycling. Secondly the absence of other sports activities have also attracted people towards cycling. At present I have pre booking of around 70 bi-cycles", he said.