Any game needs a healthy mind and healthy body and adhering to my fitness regime helps me to concentrate on game more, says Kabaddi player Deepak Hooda
One of the star players of Kabaddi currently in the country, Deepak Niwas Hooda aka ‘Raiding Machine’ has been the go to player for Puneri Paltan since season three. He is the only player Puneri Paltan has retained from the last season. In 2016, after remaining part of the Telugu Titans for the first two seasons, Hooda joined the Puneri Paltan for the third and fourth seasons. In the third-place play-off, Hooda top scored with nine raid points for the Puneri Paltan, helping them to make a podium finish in the third season.
Hooda currently plays for Air India. He also represented India in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He was a part of the Indian Kabaddi team, which won gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games. Deepak made his national debut during the 2014 Senior Nationals Kabaddi Tournament representing Jharkhand team.
My fitness philosophy is to enjoy life, one needs a healthy heart and mind. And for a healthy heart and mind, one needs to be fit. So, health and fitness are closely related and are two sides of the same coin. If one has a peaceful and healthy mind, one can enjoy life to the fullest.
My fitness mantra is to maintain continuity in fitness. Even when I am not working or when I don’t have a camp I make sure I eat healthy and stay healthy. If I don’t work out, I feel I am missing a major thing in my life. Fitness has become an integral part of my life now.
"Hooda currently plays for Air India. He also represented India in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He was a part of the Indian Kabaddi team, which won gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games"
Milk is an important factor for my fitness. I follow my fitness trainer’s advice, which helps me to stay fit. Any game needs a healthy mind and healthy body and adhering to my fitness regime helps me to concentrate on game more.
My family is my stress buster. I love spending time with my family and sister, which frees me of pressure.
I always ensure that I have good healthy food since for a player, the most important part is to stick to their diet and have ample of rest.
I concentrate on running and sprinting since these are the essential fitness aspects of the game I play. I also concentrate on skipping (jumping rope).
I eat a lot of almonds and drink lots of milk. Apart from almond and milk, I love to have pineapple and orange juice.
Yoga is good for health. It helps me stay calm, vitalizes my body and mind and rejuvenates me after every practice session. Even 10–15 mins of yoga every day is enough to rejuvenate mind and body.
Always eat healthy and nutritious food. Make sure you find time for practice or exercise every day. Any form of daily exercise or practice helps body to stay flexible and fit. Avoid drinking shakes and eating sweets as they do most damage to the body.
By Sharmila Chand
