'Testing' times for top Indian shuttlers
Times of India, New Delhi   20-Apr-2020

With the court out of bounds and the racquet resting, some of India's top shuttlers have gone back to studies to prepare for an online assessment test, which will be conducted by their employer, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

The badminton players have been asked to complete some course work and appear in the assessment test that involves topics such as cyber security, plastic waste management, product maintenance etc., in a bid to keep them busy during the coronavirus-forced nationwide lockdown.

India's top men's doubles player Chirag Shetty, who won the Thailand Open and finished runner-up at French Open last year along with partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, said the course is tough but he is enjoying the process.

"We got a mail from IOC around first week of April for this course work. So I have been doing it. It has topics related to all the things that IOC does like handling of methanol and ethanol, safety measures while handling something, petcoke," Chirag, a 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist said.

"Basically you read the course first then give an assessment test immediately. You have to score at least 80 percent, which is pretty tough. So you end up attempting one course multiple times to pass.

"So far, I have done 10 and I have to do 20. Science background would certainly help as it is not easy. Initially, we were told to complete it by April 14 but since lockdown has been extended so we have time until May 3. We train two sessions now and in between have a lot of free time, so it keeps us occupied," said the 22-year-old, who is a grade A officer in IOC.

There are hundreds of topics from which players can choose from after logging in through a particular website provided by the IOC.

Indian women's doubles player N Sikki Reddy, who won the 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medal with Ashwini Ponnappa, is also spending some time everyday to complete the course.
"We have been given some courses to learn and write exams online. It is really nice and interesting. It started on April 4th. So we have been kept busy by that too," she said.