The COVID-19 pandemic brought life as we knew to a standstill especially for sportspersons. One of the key attributes of any footballer is to adapt and that’s exactly what Bengaluru FC duo Prabhsukhan Singh Gill and his brother Gursimrat Singh Gill did to maintain their fitness levels during the lockdown.

“As soon as it became clear that a lockdown is incoming (in March 2020), my brother (Gursimrat) and I had the idea of building a gym at home. We sourced and bought whatever equipment we could in that short time and created a gym in our own house,” Prabhsukhan told AIFF’s official website.

"Initially, it was frustrating. My brother and I realized that if we keep sitting, nothing good will come out of it. Hence, we decided to get the equipment together and keep our muscles toned and body in shape as much as possible.”

Prabshukhan has been understudy to India’s number one Gurpreet Singh Sandhu while his elder brother has been learning the art of defending from the likes of Juanan and Albert Serran at Bengaluru FC.

The Gill brothers’ ‘homemade gym’ comprises of at least 200 kgs worth of equipment including weights, rods, dumbbells, along with other necessary equipment’s like cones, resistance bands, etc.

Prabhsukhan’s former Indian Arrows teammates Narender Gahlot and Deepak Tangri, who are now with Jamshedpur FC, as well as the current crop that includes Vikram Partap Singh and Gurkirat Singh were also the beneficiaries of the initiative once the lockdown regulations were eased.

“We made sure that we followed all the prescribed protocol – such as sanitization and following the social distancing norms,” the 19-year-old added.

The pair have now begun their physical training in their village where they are able to undergo physical training as well along with sportspersons from other disciplines.

“We go there twice a day, with a gym session in-between. Interestingly, we share the ground with wrestlers, athletes and kabaddi players as well, which makes the atmosphere like one in a camp,” Prabhsukhan concluded.