SPORTS will have a limited run after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), what with the wearing of face masks and social distancing still a must so tournaments and events that gather a lot of people are off the books.
But there are a few sports that will be allowed, especially individual events since social distancing can be practiced. Golf seems to be the top of the list since the only time players come in contact with each other is that traditional handshake after the game. Post-ECQ, the handshake may be dropped in favor of a fist-bump or an elbow-bump.
However, I’ve often heard that the highlight of a golf tournament is the awards night, when the raffle is held and you really can’t impose social distancing when drinks are flowing freely, right?
Other sports that may be allowed post-ECQ are tennis, table tennis and badminton—singles, of course--since the opposing players are on opposite ends of a court. There used to be a lot of major tournaments in Cebu City, especially when the Baseline Recreation Center was still around since it was located in the middle of the city. There, the Siso siblings--Bernardine Niño, Sally Mae, Sallydine--established their names as among the best in the city in their age group. Before them, there were players like Berry Sepulveda, the Dumoran brothers and others who got college scholarships thanks to tennis.
Now, with tennis as one of the few sports allowed post-ECQ, will that lead to a growth of players? I hope so. I like tennis. I love the game and I also like the people handling the sport in the country, not the Philippine Tennis Association but the Unified Tennis Philippines, which runs a series of age group competitions all over the country.
Another sport that can comply with social distancing regulations is chess but even under ECQ chess tournaments are being held thanks to the internet so I don’t think the sport will miss a stride when the ECQ is lifted.
Bowling is another individual sport that doesn’t require competitors to be in close contact, so I guess the bowling lanes can be open.
However, for the rest of the more popular sports like basketball, football and volleyball, it’s still going to be months before we are going to see another game. But then again, there’s a plus in that as it will allow the other sports that basically lived under basketball’s shadow to get the limelight, at least in the first few months post-ECQ.