New Delhi(Agencies):Champion
shooter Samaresh Jung's fairly big house became his mini-hospital after he
tested positive for COVID-19 along with five of his family members.
Pistols and all other
accessories related to shooting were tucked away in one corner and in came
strips of paracetamol, an oxygen monitoring machine and concentrator (a device
which is used to deliver oxygen to patients with breathing related disorders).
And now, from sharing shooting
tips, Jung has got down to spreading awareness about COVID-19, having beaten
the dreaded disease with the same positive approach and determination that had
helped him become a pistol ace and earned him the nickname 'Goldfinger'.
"Some dos and don'ts, you
know, about whatever I know about the disease, and to whoever I know, I pass on
my message," Jung told PTI during an interview.
A big house coupled with a
good number of rooms and multiple toilets worked well for the champion shooter
when he tested positive for COVID-19 along with five of his family members.
They underwent self-isolation
at home till the concerned authorities gave them the clearance certificate on
June 22.
The last few weeks have been
tough for the 50-year-old pistol ace, who won a whopping seven medals,
including two gold, at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, a feat that
earned him the best athlete award of that edition.
He is accustomed to facing
challenges.
"But this was very
different," Jung said.
"I would say don't panic
to those diagnosed with COVID but, at the same time, we can't take it lightly.
The feeling that we will not get the infection should not be there at all. You
have to be extremely careful," he added.
Jung, now a coach of the
national pistol team, said his aim was to stay away from negativity after he
was told that he tested positive for COVID-19 on June 5, two days after giving
his samples.
"So I decided to stay
away from all these whatsapp messages and television. Though there were some
tough days, I was determined to be positive all along," he said.
Employed with the Central
Industrial Security Force (CISF), the son of a retired army officer said his
initial symptoms were fever and cough, but he was a bit surprised as he would
rarely venture out of his north Delhi residence, which housed 13 members at the
time.
While four of the infected
family members isolated themselves at home, two of them checked into a specific
COVID facility.
"We had quite a few rooms
and toilets which we could be used individually, with couple of them being used
by those members who were not down with the virus."
"We were following the
standard protocol and as part of it, there was also a COVID-19 poster pasted
outside our house. Now that we are all clear I am waiting for the authorities
to remove it."
"It wasn't easy but we
had a few friends living nearby who would deliver us the medicines and
groceries."
"I informed the CISF,
their doctors were there and so were a couple of doctors who are like family
friends," Jung, who is now a high performance pistol coach with the Indian
team, said.
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