Net gains and losses
Vaibhav Sharma

Somdev Devvarman will have to better his performance at Wimbledon Photo: PTI

With the French Open just concluded, and Wimbledon looming large, tennis fans are surely in for a treat. There is enough high-quality tennis on offer to keep just about everyone glued to the TV sets. Especially when the Indian contenders are doing well, the interest does go considerably higher.

With Sania Mirza ending runners-up in the women’s doubles final at Roland Garros, and despite a disappointing showing by Lee-Hesh, there is enough for all Indian fans to look out for. There is a certain Somdev Devvarman,`A0who ends up making it through the qualifiers of almost all Grand Slams, and adds tremendous respectability to India’s showing at all major events. Then, there is also the Indo-Pak pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. The two have been playing extremely well together, and it was on evidence recently, as they made it to the quarterfinals of the French Open.

Sania Mirza’s improved form at the French Open raises hopes for the upcoming tournament Photo: AP/PTI

Let’s start with Sania’s much-improved showing, where she played the final alongside her partner Elena Vesnina of Russia, losing in a pretty much one-sided final. The two had shown a lot of composure and understanding of each other’s game. And although their co-ordination was pretty much there for all to see even in the final, they somehow could not get themselves to hit top gear against unseeded Czech duo of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. Still, Sania can take a lot of heart from the fact that she made it to the final and can only improve from here on.

But her form in singles still doesn’t look too bright, and the second-round jinx at the French Open also continued as she crashed out of the tournament with a straight-sets defeat against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

While much is always expected of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, especially when they are paired as the Indian Express, the duo failed to live up to the hype. They were knocked out of the French Open by unseeded Australian pair of Stephen Huss and Ashley Fisher. The defeat meant that the Australian Open winners will have to up their game several levels as they get set to prepare for Wimbledon in just 10 days’ time.

The two have so much history together, that it looks almost certain that they can still recreate the same magic that had at one stage made the entire world sit up and take notice of Indian tennis. Whether their performance can still keep pace with their ambitions is a question which will be answered in due time.

The Indo-Pak pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Qureshi was a bright spot in Paris. The two have created amazing understanding, and it shows in the way they read situations in almost identical fashion, and react in identical ways as well. Their dream run ended in the quarterfinals as they squandered a one-set lead and ultimately went down fighting to top-ranked American pair of Bob and Mike Bryan.

For Somdev, making it to the main event will have to count as a positive. That the hard-working Indian ran into someone as seasoned as Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic was sheer hard luck. He still could have made a fist of the first round match, but the big serves, bigger volleys and sheer difference in class meant that it was a foregone conclusion.

Although the French Open did turn out to be a bit of a mixed bag for the Indians, Wimbledon might be a chance at redemption for some, and a case of covering the last mile for others. As the All-England Championships get set to open the gates from June 20, these very players will just have to go ahead believing that the grass on the other side is indeed greener for them!

Fitness mantra
WATER WOWS
Sunita Bhatti

As everyone knows, water is essential for living organisms and the human body. It is not just a simple tasteless fluid but nature’s gift for the human body and the first step towards a healthy life. Water plays a vital role in maintaining good health by providing so many health benefits. Seventy per cent of the human body consists of water. Ninety per cent of blood and 85 per cent of the brain is water. Due to their higher muscle mass, a male’s body requires more water when compared to that of a woman. So, it is very important to consume sufficient amount of pure water to fulfil the body’s daily requirement.

n By drinking sufficient amount of water you can get tremendous health benefits.
n Water hydrates your body and this helps your muscles and organs to work quickly and efficiently.
n When your body is working well, it will boost your metabolic rate and help you to feel more energetic.
n Water can help your metabolism burn calories 3 per cent faster.
n Water is essential for the transportation of nutrients to various body parts.
n It also lubricates joints and keeps the skin supple.
n If the intestines fail to get enough water, they will absorb the required amount from the bowels. In such a situation, constipation is caused.

There is more water loss in the form of sweating during workouts and hot weather, so you need to drink more water during summers and while exercising. Drinking water before, during and after exercise will keep energy levels high and help muscles recover after training. Without perspiration the normal daily turnover of water in adults is about 4 per cent of body weight, which is 2.8 litres for a 70 kg person. Experts suggest that the average person should consume at least 8-10 glasses of water per day. This may be done by keeping a pre-measure water bottle (approx 2l) with you during the day. Measure out one glass every hour and make it a goal to finish a glass within the hour.

In general, a healthy adult man should drink approximately 13 glasses of water per day and a healthy woman should drink approximately 9 glasses per day. These number of glasses are determined by the average amount of water a person loses through excretions as well as the amount of water required to facilitate bodily functions. Young children need to drink more water as their bodies grow and develop. Pregnant and lactating women should also consume 10 to 12 glasses of water per day to make up for the additional water loss to baby or foetus. In old age, one should also take care to consume ample amount of water to keep the body fit.

Now the question arises as to how to take sufficient amount of water. If you want to incorporate more water in your diet through food, try to look for foods with a high water content, such as fruits and vegetables. Melons, cucumber and tomatoes all have high water content. While these do not replace the benefits of drinking water directly, they help to provide some hydration along with other vital vitamins and minerals that come from fruits and vegetables. If you find it difficult to drink plain water, then a bit of lemon juice or any other flavour can be added to water. If you’re feeling hungry, drink a glass of water 15 minutes before eating, it will help subside your hunger, so you can better manage your portion control. Try to take a sip of water between every few bites, which helps you to feel full faster. The best way is to drink water in between the meals.

If you don’t drink enough water, your body starts showing some symptoms like dark coloured urine, constipation, dry skin, migraine, headaches, dehydration, fatigue, joint pains etc. So, it is better to start drinking the recommended amount of water for your well-being.

The writer is a dietician with the Department of Dietetics, PGI