The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

RING MASTER
Nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award, boxer Jeetinder has, for the time being, set his sights on the Commonwealth Games and other upcoming championships
Vaibhav Sharma

Boxer Jeetinder Kumar attributes much of his strength to a healthy Haryanavi diet and lifestyle

FOR some people, if things came easy in life, it just would not be the same. The grind, the struggle and the day-to-day effort make the entire effort worth it. For Olympic quarterfinalist Jeetinder Kumar, life is what happens between one ring of the bell and the other. He has made himself a reputation at such a young age that expectations are bound to keep rising. After his name being forwarded for the prestigious Arjuna Award by the Indian Boxing Federation, Jeetinder talks about awards, achievements and the goals ahead in an interview. Excerpts:

How well do you remember the Beijing Olympics? That was where this boxing revolution sort of started.

Yes, definitely. Those were the real big moments for Indian boxing. People still come up to us, they still remember things about all our bouts. The moves and the glory. We deserved more medals. But, I guess, an unfulfilled dream gives you the fire to work harder, try better and outperform yourself. I remember that I received 10 stitches before the quarterfinal, but not once did it cross my mind that I will not fight, or just give in.

Your name has been forwarded for the Arjuna Award. How does that make you feel?

It is always good to see that your efforts are being acknowledged. There is no dearth of talent in our country, but talent has to be nurtured, taken care of, only then you can dream about producing champions. I am happy that the federation thinks that I deserve this honour. I had applied for the Bhim Award this year and the year before as well. But nothing happened on that front. I am not complaining, but just what are the parametres? I am pretty clueless about that.

You have just turned 22. Age is on your side and you have already carved your own niche in the ring. What comes next?

In sport, as in life, when you are satisfied, you are finished. The hunger to work harder, dream bigger and do more should be there and I am no different. I want to win more bouts, medals and make my country even more proud. The quarterfinal loss at the Olympics still haunts me. I want to win gold for my country. I know that it’s not easy but then, things that really matter, are never easy.

Haryana has become a cradle for boxing. What is it about the state that produces so many world-class players?

We still rely on our village diet. Milk, ghee and other things that the village elders use to tell us to have. The villages have pretty much the right infrastructure to nurture true and raw potential. That is not to say that the modern ways are redundant, but a healthy diet and lifestyle is the basis for building up stamina. And Haryana offers us that.

What about the WSB? You have been picked up by Videocon for the Delhi franchise. What is your take
on that?

There are some very big names in the Delhi franchise, including Akhil and Vijender. It will be good for the promotion of the sport and also give the boxers a chance to fight for big money, and add to the popularity of the sport. I am definitely looking forward to it. It was also my childhood dream to turn professional, so I am particularly happy about this.

There is also a certain amount of opposition to the WSB. It means that the big names go out of other events, such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games from next year onwards.

But it does leave out the Olympics and any qualifying event for the Olympics, which are cleared by the AIBA. It also means that the new names, the younger lot, who would have had to wait longer otherwise, will get the experience early on at the world stage. In fact, a gold medal in the WSB means a direct qualification for the Olympics. Moreover, the AIBA have made this rule that bars us from competing in other events, and if they can make the rule, I am sure they can change it, too.

What are your immediate goals for this year?

Well, there are the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games lined up for this year, but then, of course, there is the WSB coming up later and the London Olympics. I have my goals in front of me, and the task is pretty much cut out. Don’t know what the future holds, except that I will be going all out to tap my complete potential and do my country proud. It’s a bit like - this was just a warm-up - the fight has only begun!

Beetles, beware!
Vikas Sharma

THE monsoon season paves the way for the arrival of a few unwelcome guests, the rove beetles. Please do not confuse these beetles with the popular Volkswagen’s Beetel cars or the popular Beatles musical group.

These beetles are a dangerous species of insects that can cause a skin disorder, peadrus dermatitis, that can leave permanent scars on the face and exposed areas of any individual, thus causing a lot of cosmetic disfigurement.

Stagnant water in the rainy season and thick vegetation tend to serve as a breeding ground for these deadly insects. The most common outcome in this season due to this is the outbreak of paederus dermatitis.

Though a lot of new colonies are coming up, the administration hardly cares about the thick vegetation in close proximity to the residential areas, which serves as the resting area for these insects.

The disease is caused by these rove beetles belonging to the genus paederus. These beetles do not bite or sting, but accidental brushing against them or crushing over the skin causes the release of its coelomic fluid, which contains paederin, a potent vesicant.

The following guidelines can be employed to prevent this ailment:

Learn to recognise paederus beetles and avoid handling or crushing these insects against the exposed areas of the skin.
Keep the doors closed and put screens on them. Both doors and windows should be kept in good repair to reduce the entry of beetles into buildings.
Sleeping under a bed net, preferably permethrin-treated, may also reduce the probability of a beetle falling on the skin during the night.
A net or mesh can be tied under the lights to prevent the beetle from dropping on to humans.
Patients should be advised to avoid manipulating primary lesions or rubbing the eyes following primary involvement.
If a beetle lands on the skin, try to remove it gently (example: blow it off, try to get the beetle to walk on to a piece of paper and then remove it). Wash contact areas.
Check various areas for beetles (especially on walls and ceilings around the light) before going to bed. The beetle, if present, should be killed by using an insecticide (pyrethroid) followed by sweeping up and removal of beetle carcasses. Remember that the beetles can cause symptoms, alive or dead, hence avoid handling directly.
Clear excess vegetation from and around the residence, as the beetles may rest in these areas.

stop in the tracks
Jogging doesn't always help lose weight

RUNNING might not be the ideal form of exercise, especially if you want to lose weight.

Says Greg Brookes, a London-based personal trainer: "Lots of people start running to lose weight and it doesn't always work — and this is why." "Fat is one of our body's favourite sources of energy," says Brookes. "The more you run, the more your body prepares itself for your next run. You will actually start to hold on to more fat," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying. Brookes, with a clientele that includes celebrities, high-fliers and housewives, suggests why you won't get leaner is that the body is an amazing machine and will adapt to anything. "The more time you spend running, the better you become at running and the more efficient you get, the less energy you use and the fewer calories you burn," says Brookes. According to him, running is also bad for joints. "When you run, two-and-a-half times your bodyweight is transmitted through your joints. If that force is repeated over and over, eventually your weakest joint will give out. Usually, the ankles or the knees are the first to go," he adds. Contrary to popular belief that any exercise will speed up your metabolism, running can, says Brookes, do the opposite. — IANS