Keeping fit is not child's play

Well-being

For most, taking a early morning walk in a park near their house or a jog at Kukkarahalli lake has become a routine. For some others, playing shuttle or volleyball has become more like a habit. Their common goal is ‘to keep good health’.

One may see people with a racquet in hand — either badminton or tennis — making their way towards dedicated places during morning hours. Also, some heading towards a ground with cricket sets — from wickets to bats, balls to pads among others. All they want is ‘to remain healthy’ with lots of fun.

Three vacant plots at the corner of Fourth Main road, ‘M’ Block, Kuvempunagar, has been converted into a shuttle badminton court. It’s nearly a decade since the court bonds a group of men from different localities.

Says Vidyanand, who is into agribusiness and plays badminton for the past several years, “One who comes first to the court has a job to do. He has to water the court to keep the soil intact. It also helps the soil to remain smooth. Or else it becomes difficult to move on the hard surface.” They are thankful to a neighbour, who gives them a pot of water without any complaint.

Comes Pradeep after playing a match. He works with a private company as an area sales manager and has been the senior among the players here. He took to badminton from volleyball, he was playing earlier. He began playing at the court near Kannegowda Stadium in K G Koppal. As the court turned worse, he switched over to the court where he regularly plays now.

He humbly owes it (the court) to Dr H T Chidanand and a college lecturer in the vicinity for the facility. Apart from Vidyanand and Pradeep, Vinu Bopaiah, Venu Madhav, Nagendra and Devaraj also play shuttle here.

They love to sweat even as they enjoy playing for nearly two hours. Engaging in an activity early in the morning keeps one’s mind fresh, says Pradeep.

Almost similar is the mood at a corner of the ground opposite Maharaja College. A majority of those who play volleyball here are elders — successful brains in their realm. It has been their regular for over two decades.

Age not a concern

Close to 10 in numbers, they play for nearly two hours on week days. Barring a minute’s interval after every match, they play with equal alacrity akin to youth, yelling at their partners — even as they lift and smash the ball.

Says Madan Jain: “When we decided to play, we had to scout for a perfect place, before zeroing in on the ground. Since then, there is no looking back.” They have named their group Jain Volleyball Club.

To ensure a sense of discipline, they impose a fine if one arrives late or hurls an expletive in anger. The fine thus collected is the purse for breakfast on Sundays. On Sundays, they play for extra hours and disperse after having breakfast in a hotel nearby.

Being in business, it’s obvious for them to undergo physical and mental stress — cracking their brains over many things. They have found early morning sports a way to destress and also acquire energy — of course to remain youthful.

When City Herald watched them play, all were found equally energetic and there wasn’t a sign of stress on their faces even after diving to lift a ball.

The club also has Shantilal Kataria — also the eldest — Amarchand, Madan Singh, Madan Lal Maru, Madan Lal Dak, Ashok Dak, Vijay Mehar, Nemichand Srimal and Rajmal Nangavat.

If you have made up your mind to play early in the morning, what are you waiting for.  All it needs is the will and energy, also partners. Do it to remain energetic.