The impact of COVID-19 on the stamina of Kabaddi players: a noteworthy adverse experience

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a memorable and challenging period for the global population, particularly for athletes. The ability to train outdoors and gather in groups became highly restricted and often prohibited, leading to adverse effects. Kabaddi athletes in Bali, Indonesia, were among those significantly impacted. This group had the potential to contribute champions to the national team. The aim of this study was to assess the arm muscle endurance of Denpasar Kabaddi athletes before and during the pandemic. This research is descriptive-quantitative in nature and employed purposive sampling, involving 15 core athletes. The endurance test consisted of performing pushups for one minute. Data were analyzed descriptively to determine the average arm muscle endurance level of the athletes. Results indicated that before the pandemic, 100% of the athletes had good arm muscle endurance. During the pandemic, however, only 5 out of 15 athletes (33.33%) maintained a good level, while 10 athletes fell to a medium level. The study concluded that the arm muscle endurance of Denpasar male kabaddi athletes decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic by an average of 9.33 times per minute. Keywords: Arm Muscle Endurance, Kabaddi, Covid-19 Pandemic