Gym owners dread further losses

Pune: Members of the gym owners’ association in Pune claimed to have lost 70% of their business since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing speculation about a lockdown has further put them under the fear of suffering fresh losses. They said many customers, who had joined the gyms, do not want to continue with their subscription while new customers are unwilling to sign up for the time being.

Nilesh Kale, president of Pune fitness club association, said, “The situation of many gym owners is already bad as they have started losing business over the last few weeks. Another lockdown will completely destroy them. Several people, including fitness trainers, have lost their jobs as about 500 gyms in the city did not open after the last lockdown. If another lockdown takes place, many of us won’t be able to reopen gyms again.”

The city has about 3,000 gyms. Last year, gyms and fitness clubs were closed for eight months, eventually reopening in November.