The Tuks archer Shaun Anderson believes the postponement of Tokyo's Olympic and Paralympic Games might not be a bad thing. 

"Losing out on an opportunity teaches one appreciation. For this reason, I believe next year's Games are going to be the Games that will blow the world's mind. It is going to be a celebration of life. Bringing us together. No athlete is going to take anything for granted ever again."

"President Nelson Mandela said: 'Sport can create hope where once there was only despair'. If ever the world needed hope it is now. The coronavirus outbreak is, without a doubt, one of the worst catastrophes’ to hit mankind.

Anderson was left paralysed after a motorboat accident. Before that, his left arm was amputated after he was involved in a motorbike accident a few years ago. Still, he refuses to feel sorry for himself. In 2016 he represented South Africa at the Rio Paralympic Games.

The Tuks archer admits being quite depressed on hearing the Games had been postponed. 

"I was starting to find form. In my last competition before the 'lockdown', I shot a South African record. It made me believe qualifying for the Paralympic Games would be a mere breeze. 
Then the announcement happened.

"After I thought about everything, I realised it is the right decision. The international archery community is quite close. Since the coronavirus outbreak, there have been a lot of messages of encouragement doing the rounds. 

"We in South Africa are lucky as we are still able to sort of train. My friends in Italy who are living in apartment buildings can't. They are not the only ones. It means the Games would not have been a fair contest."

Despite being in lockdown, the Tuks archer is still training daily. 

"I try and stick as closely to my routine as it was before the crisis. It is essential not to give in to the temptation of doing absolutely nothing. When it gets difficult to remain positive, I think why I do what I do. I don't only want to compete at the Games again; I want to make South Africa proud.

"On most days, I am in my driveway training. The good thing now is that I get to focus on the things I tend to neglect when between competitions. I call it the 'coronavirus drills'. Things like training your mind while aiming . . . the release of the arrow . . . Repetitively doing it over and over again.

"Should I choose to, I am able to still compete. I can challenge someone anywhere in the world on Facebook to a duel. I would shoot my arrows in my yard and my opponent the same. On finishing, we would post our respective scores."