The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Keep yourself fit with sports

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Saturday, May 10, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Keep yourself fit with sports

Abhijit Dev Kumar

Youngsters are taking to sports to boost their endurance

THE HINDU-Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Healthy lifestyle: A youngster playing tennis to keep fit. -Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

HYDERABAD: It’s a fixed routine for Kranti Kiran everyday. The 25-year-old ‘Civils’ aspirant slips into his track pants and puts on his shoes for his habitual jog and a game of football at Secunderabad Gymkhana Grounds. More and more youngsters like Kranti are taking to sports to boost their fitness and endurance levels in addition to sweating it out.

“It’s the best way to keep in shape. Any sport that one plays requires good stamina and endurance. Another important aspect about sports is to stretch properly before and after a game,” he says.

Whether one wins or not, youngsters are all praise of the ‘feel good factor’ that comes after a game. Taran Singh, a JNTU engineering student and his group of friends often stop over at Chiran Fort club for a quick game of squash, just to unwind from the pressures of college assignments.

“I was playing the sport just for fun but realised that I was losing weight too! But the game is a real stress buster. Running around and reflexes involved in it helps one develop stamina and in the end, you feel really good,” says Taran.

Weight training

A little amount of weight training can also help one play any sport better. K. Moses, a fitness trainer opines, “To dabble in sports like football, basketball and hockey, stamina and endurance is vital. With the right kind of weight training for each sport, one can really boost their performance in the game.”

Cardiovascular exercises such as running, jogging, skipping and jumping help build leg muscles and make them stronger. “The body has to have a good foundation for any sport. The legs need to be strong to keep the player agile and it’s a must for any sportsperson to do a good amount of cardio and stretching,” adds Moses.

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