Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Fitness in Central Indian Athletes Aged 20-30 Years: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

Background Physical fitness is of utmost importance to athletes as it ensures better performance in competitive sports. Athletes who contracted COVID-19 frequently experienced persistent symptoms for weeks or months afterward. Due to the direct effects of COVID-19 infection on pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, combined with the negative effects of isolation and inactivity, it has been observed that physical fitness decreases in individuals.