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| SPORTS & WELLNESS |
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Match that matters Festive way to fitness Facing the future Yeah, yoga! |
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Match that matters Yes, there has been some good news. After witnessing a lot of stories off the field, this one from the turf has galvanised Indian hockey, for one more time. India clinched the inaugural Men’s Asian Champions Trophy held at Ordos, China, recently, thrashing neighbours Pakistan in the decider. Understandably, there is an air of euphoria all around. Awards, recognition and photo ops. But this euphoria could be dangerous though it offers us a glimmer of hope, as the win should be viewed in terms of the vast talent pool which exists in the country and needs to be tapped, cautions the leader of the pack, Rajpal Singh. In a free-wheeling chat, he shares his thoughts about the recent upset, why beating Pakistan brings extra gratification, his plans of marriage to shooter Avneet Sidhu and much more.
Chemistry of the champs Having won a ‘match’ off the field, too, Rajpal Singh, who is set to marry shooter Avneet
Sidhu, when asked if he plans to get married this year, says “I can’t say for sure, but it should be very soon. Right now, I would not like to put a date to it. May be, this year.” On player pairings, he adds, “There is a great deal of advantage in a player marrying a sportsperson. Both of you know about each other’s profession and the challenges it involves. Hence, there is more understanding. And, moreover, each one of you gets to know about the intricacies of each other’s sport. This enriches your knowledge. I will be learning a lot about shooting, hopefully.” As for famous sports couples, he says: “There are not many who come to mind but my favourite player couple has always been Andre Agassi-Steffi Graff. Both of them were great players individually and as partners, too. I admire them the most.” Whom do you give credit for this win? The whole team, actually. The best part was that every one played their part to perfection. The coach and supporting staff have been superb. Our trainer David Jones should
get a mention here. He, too, has worked very hard in shaping the team. Hopefully, we can build on these positives. Beating Pakistan must have been extra special? It’s not that we have not beaten them earlier, but this time it was personally very satisfying to go past them in the final at Ordos. Just before the match, I read on the Net that one of their senior players had raved that Pakistan always won the inaugural tournaments and they would beat India here, too. Breaking into their fort was extra dear to me personally. We proved we still belong to the top. The team, before leaving for China, was labelled as young and inexperienced and was mired in avoidable controversies, like the one involving Sandeep and Sardara. What happened was not good for the game. I hope this gets sorted out fast. The team had a perfect mix of experience and youth. Ignace Turkey, Chetri and Gurbaz have all been there for long. Youngsters Manjeet Kullu and Vikas Sharma amply showcased their talent. The role
of all players has been well defined and we stuck to them throughout the tournament. The controversy involving the awarding of the team must have left a bad taste. Things have been sorted out now and that should be a relief to all. All stakeholders should now concentrate on taking our team to where we
really belong. Physical fitness is an area of concern. This showed whenever we had to play matches on consecutive days. I admit, it is a cause for concern and our trainer Jones even says we have just started the process of remaining fit and there is a long way to go before we reach the level we are aiming for. We drew matches whenever we played for the second day running. The fixtures against Malaysia, Pakistan and Japan are a case in point. But that is what happens on any given day, and the same team rallied from behind to save matches and crucial points on more than two occasions The win was coupled with the news of the IHF taking away the Champions Trophy from India. It is sad that the IHF took this decision but the past is past. As a team, we should now concentrate on and spend our energies on first qualifying for the prestigious event. We were playing the Champions Trophy for being the host nation, but now it would be better to come to the Champions Trophy after
qualifying the Champions Challenge in Johannesburg in November-December.
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Festive way to fitness It
is the start of the season of festivals, which translates into lots of lip-smacking sweets. The aromas and flavours of mithai can also mean a few extra kilos. But don’t let the merrymaking take a toll on your figure and weight.
This festive season if you want to shake your blues away and loose a few kilos in the process, then go dancing. Yes, dance is an excellent form of exercise that is emotionally and mentally satisfying. Dancing can give you a high of the natural kind. It is a vigorous physical activity that burns calories the way no other exercise does. Hollywood stars like Paris Hilton, Catherine Zeta Jones and Beyonce Knowles attribute their heavenly figures to belly dancing. Columbian singer Shakira has given a Salsa twist to belly dancing and earned a worldwide following. You, too, can do the same this festive season. Festive time in western India — especially Gujarat — starts with Navratri, when people pirouette to the Dandiya Raas. Guys and girls in colourful attires strike their wooden sticks to the rhythmic beats of Garba music in clockwise and counter clockwise movements. Though the devotional aspect of the dance is well documented, not many know that Dandiya is an ideal way to keep in shape and banish stress. According to fitness experts, it is an excellent form of exercise that is emotionally, mentally and physically satisfying. Apart from giving a high of the natural kind, it burns as many calories as jogging or swimming. Dandiya promotes fitness and is a great way to lose fat, especially around the belly. The continuous dance movements help performers lose an estimated 300 to 500 calories an hour, depending on the speed of the dance. It helps de-stress the mind. Since it is a form of vigorous workout, it releases endorphins or brain chemicals that trigger a kind of euphoria known as the Runner’s High, that melts away tension and relaxes the mind and body even as you burn calories while dancing. The devotional dance not just improves cardiovascular strength and physical agility but it also helps improve gait and posture and develops grace and elegance. It makes you more coordinated and teaches you to move more artfully. Dancing to the musical beats of sticks improves blood circulation, which gives the skin a healthy pink glow, which
in turn aids in improving the posture and gait, apart from providing immense health benefits of
aerobic exercises. The performers develop concentration and a keen sense of team work as they have to strike their sticks in a coordinated manner to the beat of the music. To do this correctly and in rhythm, they have to be completely focussed. Dandiya is traditionally a celebratory dance and contains a special social component that gives you an opportunity to develop strong ties. This results in friendships and contributes to self-esteem and a positive self image. Such form of vigorous dancing has an added advantage over the monotony of the treadmill and aerobics. It is an inspired art since it does not make the heartbeat sound like a muffled drum, or make the face turn scarlet with exertion. So go ahead shake a leg or two this dandiya season. —
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Facing the future Shane
Warne has revealed that though he feels happy in his skin right now, he wouldn’t mind going under the knife in the future. “Maybe one day, who knows, but at the moment I feel fit and healthy,” the Herald Sun quoted him as saying. The spin king, who has slimmed down after 12 months of rigorous fitness sessions, said that speculations regarding his making radical changes to his face were ridiculous. “I am not sure when I had time to run into hospital and get my head pulled back, or whatever it was I was meant to have had — fillers, tattooed eye-liner, face-lift, brow-lift,” he said. “I have actually got wrinkles so I should probably get my money back if I have had it done. “If I ever did do something I would not be afraid, I would say I feel better for it. Each to their own, but I haven’t,” he added. — ANI Yeah, yoga! "(I am) watching what I eat. I stopped lifting big weights and I'm doing yoga,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted the 41-year-old actor as saying. Butler also says that he is maintaining a slim figure because he is doing a surfing movie. "If I wear a long shirt, everyone says, 'Oh my, God! He lost so much weight!' But this is just how I look. I just used to be a lot bigger. But now I'm surfing. I'm doing a surf movie so I have to slim down."
— IANS
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Yes,
Scottish actor Gerard Butler says he is doing yoga along with other exercises to lose weight.