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The gym has become an integral part in a sportsman's life. Besides building muscles, it strengthens him physically and mentally
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National bodybuilding bronze medallist G. Eswar works out on the hack squat which is ideal for strengthening lower body muscles — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf
THOSE WERE the days when yoga sustained sportsmen to a great extent, the names of Abid Ali, Bishen Singh Bedi and Alan Knott standing out among them.
India's pace battery being limited, Abid Ali almost single-handedly held one end up. Bedi seemed as calm as ever, turning his arm for scores of overs successively. Knott showed remarkable agility, even indulging himself with a few exercise related antics when he got a breather behind the stumps, where he did duty for two and three days at a stretch. The trio toiled endlessly with an endurance that was remarkable.
With advances in science and sports medicine, there has been a drastic change in perspective. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) now insists on affiliate associations setting up gymnasiums for the benefit of its players. Over the years, most cricket bodies across the country have stocked themselves with fairly well equipped gyms.
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) got its own apparatus from the BCCI in 2001at a cost of Rs. 10 lakhs. Since the Gymkhana Ground was the HQ of the HCA, the decision to position it there was unanimous. The storeroom, where ground maintenance material was kept, seemed the ideal choice.
Shortly after its inception, it became a hit with cricketers, so much so that several players of the past also began to use the facility. Almost the entire current Hyderabad-Ranji team uses the gizmos on offer.
Open only to registered players of the HCA between 7 and 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m., Sudhakar is the in-charge, while physio Badrinath is available during these times to take care of those who may need a rub-down or two. The attendance is high on almost all days except on Sunday, when it is closed.
Former Test off-spinner and Secretary of the HCA, N. Shivlal Yadav finds it heartening to see under-16 and under-19 players also taking to the gym. "If they use it wisely and effectively, it will boost their fitness levels that will not only enhance but even extend their careers," he observes.
Yadav himself was known to sustain spin spells sometimes for 20 and 30 overs on the trot. "Since I was a spinner, we were advised against using weights, for fear of tearing a muscle or two before a crucial fixture. Now the thinking has changed and even spinners are urged to do some weights," he says. How was he able to prevent burn out after such long stints? "I would do a lot of long distance running to build up stamina," he recalls. Sprinting and skipping made up the rest of his fitness routine.
Hyderabad's pride V.V.S. Laxman finds the gym most useful. "With the nets, ground and gym all in one compound, it is most convenient in that no time is lost commuting elsewhere for any of these facilities." Whenever he's in town, Laxman makes it a point to pump the iron here, before or after a session of nets.
Over the years, the gym has become an integral part of a sportsman's life. His reliance on it has been on the increase for, besides building muscles, it strengthens him physically and mentally. Take for instance, G. Eswar, a two-time national body building bronze medal winner in the 75 and 80-kgs categories, who cannot do without a daily visit to Banda's Fitness World in Karkhana, not far from Gymkhana.
Former all-England champion, P. Gopichand feels 60 per cent of badminton revolves around the physical, where your abilities to move and last on court, count a lot. Gyms, to him, come in handy to develop speed and endurance. Most important to him is their role in injury prevention. He is indebted to his instructor Dinaz for helping him on the road to recovery, even as he's a regular at her gym in Banjara Hills.
A. JOSEPH ANTONY
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