Category: Health Fitness

Viswabharath Allamsetti, with his roots in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, recently finished the gruelling Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Exactly 44 hours and 29 after he started out, Viswabharath Allamsetti crossed the finish line at Chamonix, France, joining the ranks of those who had endured the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). For […]

Onlookers watch open-mouthed as an athlete, with the Japanese flag emblazoned on his wetsuit balances deftly on one leg, and juggles three neon balls in the air. This is just the beginning of his warm up. Athletes from South Korea and India are not too far away, calmly working on their own warm-up routines before […]

Former South African cricketer and Surfing Federation of India (SFI) ambassador Jonty Rhodes at Mamallapuram Jonty Rhodes laughs when told that a surfing event here feels incomplete without his presence. The former South African cricketer has always waxed eloquent on his love of India, and has over the years, enthusiastically taken to the waves in […]

Ajay Thomas’ first encounter with pickleball, a paddle sport played with a perforated plastic ball, happened a little over a year ago in Chennai, during a corporate team outing. Within a few minutes of playing the game, Ajay, an athlete during his early days, could rally with ease. Later, when he moved to Bengaluru, he […]

Surfers at a practice session in Mamallapuram | Photo Credit: Vaibhav Gupta Have you ever watched in awe as surfers, graceful and agile, take on the waves at the Coromandel coast? Chennai’s many surf schools at any given point of time, have a clutch of newbies trying to master the basics of this surface water […]

Participants at The Bhag Club voluntary run in Delhi | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Last Sunday, a large group of college students and young adults gathered at Chanakyapuri in Delhi and voluntarily put on their running shoes to run the perimeter of Nehru Park and test their stamina and energy levels. It was neither a […]

Watch: Jump rope for fun and fitness, a new community rises in Chennai On Sunday morning, around two dozen individuals — a spirited mix of children, adults, and seniors — gathered at Dr. Natesan Park on Venkatanarayana Road in T. Nagar with one common goal: to jump-start their day with fun and fitness. Armed with […]

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, cutting calories and spending long hours in the gym, this thought must have occurred to you: “I wish there were a pill I could pop and take care of it.” Turns out that there may be a possibility, going by the host of GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, […]

Players during a training session at Besant Nagar beach The sun is beating down on Besant Nagar beach on Saturday morning, and while people are carefully choosing to sit or stand under the scattering of trees nearby, a group of women is hard at work — deftly passing a frisbee, and sprinting across the sand. […]

Basav Biradar says his new film, One Foot In Front Of The Other, which chronicles the journey of four runners who decide to run from Bengaluru to Chennai along the highway, is a political act. “There is a lot of individuality when people speak of ultra-running, including the loneliness of the long-distance runner and other […]

There is something about the high you experience, watching an edge-of-the seat victory in a sports movie on the big screen. Closer home however, the sands of Besant Nagar beach that has several teams come together to play Ultimate Frisbee through the year has an inspiring, and almost equally cinematic story to tell.  At the […]

Neeraj Chopra is thrilled about having regained the top spot in men’s javelin throw as per the latest World Athletics ranking. But it hasn’t been an easy climb to the top, with the last year, in particular, being very tough, admits Chopra.“I was second almost everywhere,” he says. But, “after a long time, I have […]

It is 4pm, and Ashwini swipes her card as she exits a gym at Millers Road, greeting us with a welcome smile. “I train here thrice for nearly three hours every week,” she says. Not too long ago, the 39-year-old participated in the Backyard Ultra Bangalore, running for 28 hours and setting the national record […]

Suresh Sam Chandy after finishing his fifth Ironman triathlon in Florianopolis, Brazil  | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “The tagline of the Ironman triathlon is ‘Anything is Possible’. Yet, it is a seemingly impossible task and a larger-than-life experience. This possibility gravitated me towards this race,” says triathlete Suresh Sam Chandy, who recently completed the race for […]

Women lifting weights at Ladies Club, an all-women’s gym in T Nagar, Chennai. | Photo Credit: Shivaraj S Fifty-one year-old Safira Altaf walks into Ladies Club, an all-women’s gym in T Nagar, twice a week at 8.30am with a top knot, eyes rimmed with kohl, and a book in her hand. Her class does not […]

Can’t execute a flawless burpee? Never mind, try a simple plank then. If that is too much to ask, get out and play cricket or go for a walk. Because if you don’t feel up to it, all you probably need to do is move. Gyms these days are no longer intimidating spaces that demand […]

Surupa Sen | Photo Credit: Karthik Venkatraman “Run! Run faster and you will get there quicker!”, is all we hear and do in our lives. We are constantly surrounded by the demand to cope no matter how. On the other end of the spectrum, our ancient practices teach us to be still. Yoga and classical […]

A group of women executing deadlifts as part of the International Women’s Day event held at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (March 8). Shot on OnePlus #FramesofIndia | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran Last year exactly 18,887 crimes were reported against women in Kerala according to data collected from the Crime Records Bureau. A fitness club […]

A young girl practises mallakhamb as monsoon clouds hover over Mumbai at Shivaji Park on May 20. Shot on OnePlus #FramesofIndia | Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI In Mallakhamb, a traditional performative sport from India, performers balance themselves on a pole and perform acrobatics. Published – May 23, 2025 11:39 am IST

A young girl practises mallakhamb as monsoon clouds hover over Mumbai at Shivaji Park on May 20. Shot on OnePlus #FramesofIndia | Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI In Mallakhamb, a traditional performative sport from India, performers balance themselves on a pole and perform acrobatics. Published – May 23, 2025 11:39 am IST

On a Sunday morning, a group of women gather at Turfside, Hyderabad. They begin with a warm up and spend the next 90 minutes playing football. Not all of them are adept at the game. A coach guides them with the dos and don’ts. The women sportingly navigate the moves and by the end of […]

Part of the team on their way to the summit | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Six climbers from Assam successfully summited a previously unclimbed 6,365-metre peak in Ladakh as part of the Triple Peak Expedition, organised by the Assam Mountaineering Association with support from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam. The […]

On the morning of her second-semester exam, 18-year-old S.M. Durga Sri is hard at work, punching away at the bags at GS Boxing Club in Chintadripet. When asked if she’s worried about the exam, she replies with a smile, “Not really. I can manage.” Ms. Durga, a gold medallist at the 5th Junior Girls National […]

Rohith G, Vignesh Hariharan and Sharmila Kumari Pinjala at The Hammer kettlebell academy in Kolathur. Photo: Srinivasa Ramanujam. Shot On OnePlus #FramesofIndia A training session is in the works on the second floor of Kolathur’s The Hammer Fitness gym, on a particularly hot April morning. Kettlebell coach Vignesh Hariharan is at work, teaching 55-year-old Sharmila Kumari […]

The gym dedicated to women with disabilities in Nungambakkam, Chennai. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath M. Nathiya swiftly pulls one side of the cable crossover machine weighing over six kg and proceeds to pull the other, grunting with each effort. Seated in her wheelchair, in the gym for women with disabilities, she soon falls into […]

M. Nathiya swiftly pulls one side of the cable crossover machine weighing over six kg and proceeds to pull the other, grunting with each effort. Seated in her wheelchair, in the gym for women with disabilities, she soon falls into the rhythm of her training. The seasoned para powerlifter is required to spend six hours […]

If someone had told me two years ago that I would lose over 50 kilos without setting foot in a gym or giving up real food, I would not have believed it. But here I am—healthier, sharper, and more confident than I have been in years. My transformation, however, did not begin with a fitness […]

Shashaank Saravanakumar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Fourteen-year-old Shashaank Saravanakumar may be soft-spoken, but on the road, his determination speaks volumes. A student of St Antony’s School, Puliyakulam, Coimbatore, Shashaank recently made his mark at the first Para-national Road Cycling Championship held in Hyderabad. Representing Tamil Nadu in the CII (Intellectual Impairment) category for juniors […]

Amidst the thwack of shuttlecocks and the thump of cricket balls a new sound echoes across the neighbourhoods of Coimbatore: the lively, distinct pop of a pickleball paddle meeting its plastic foe. From gated communities to newly minted indoor arenas, the city is warming up to the paddle sport. Pickleball — a sport that fuses […]

In living rooms, cafés, and weekend get-togethers, card games are quietly reshaping the social landscape in India. This past year has seen an influx of new designs — some built to test knowledge, others to fuel laughter or spark debate. From fitness challenges to fun drinking games, these decks have found a place in conversations […]

A group of women executing deadlifts as part of the International Women’s Day event held at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (March 8). Shot on OnePlus #FramesofIndia | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran Last year exactly 18,887 crimes were reported against women in Kerala according to data collected from the Crime Records Bureau. A fitness club […]

The endurance-testing Backyard Ultra format is coming to Coimbatore — and to South India — for the first time. The inaugural Coimbatore Backyard Ultra is organised by Prem SB and Nithin SS, the founders of the health and fitness startup, Battle Ground. It will take place on March 22, inside the Kumaraguru Institutions campus. With […]

In Shandur, Pakistan, home to the world’s highest polo field in the shadow of the snow-dusted Karakoram mountains is a plaque that reads “Let other people play at other things, the king of games is still the game of kings”. The words found an echo on a dark afternoon in Jaipur’s Rajasthan Polo Club (RPC) […]

Fit with Fab Farzana Begum walks into Fit with Fab every morning in Visakhapatnam, her hijab neatly tucked in place, a symbol of her identity. “My hijab is a part of me, just like my strength. It doesn’t limit me; it empowers me,” she says. In a field where women are often under-represented, she stands […]

A snapshot from a previous edition of The Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon | Photo Credit: Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh Where the Greater Himalayas rise from the Indo-Gangetic plains to run along Pakistan and China lies a large salt lake on the roof of the world. The Pangong Tso in Ladakh, a sensitive border point […]

At a practice session of Japanese martial art form Kendo at Combat Kinetics, Teynampet in Chennai | Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN A week since my first Kendo class with the Chennai Kendo Club, I find myself often zoning in and out of a larger cosmic zen. When things go wrong, I say ‘utsuke’ (meaning idiot) […]

Chennai’s interest in MMA catapulted with the popularity of UFC | Photo Credit: special arrangement Between many giggles, a couple of tiny wrestlers are warming up for the day at the 11-year-old Chennai MMA Academy in Nungambakkam. They sprint, do bear crawls, frog jumps and leech walks, and quickly move on to strengthening exercises without […]

Equestrian sports have long been associated with discipline, skill, and an unmatched bond between rider and horse. Unlike other athletic pursuits, horse riding requires an intricate understanding of movement, balance, and communication, making it one of the most unique and rewarding sports. While cities like Delhi and Bengaluru have well-established equestrian circuits, Coimbatore is steadily […]

Anvitha Padamati | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “I value the journey as much as the summit. People assume mountaineering is a cakewalk for me, but I always remind them —and myself — that each mountain is different and must be respected,” says Anvitha Padamati, a 27-year-old mountaineer and trainer from Bhongir (Bhuvanagiri), Telangana. In January, […]

When celebrity fitness expert Namrata Purohit started her first Pilates studio in 2011, there were only a couple of studios in the country. “Only a few people seemed to be aware of Pilates. But we quickly saw footfalls increase,” she recalls. Since then, things have rapidly changed. Her brand, The Pilates Studio which she co-founded […]

When four of Chennai’s leading club tennis players Vikram Seshasayee, Sooraj Viswanathan, G Rajesh and B Venkteshwar met up in November 2024, it was not to discuss tennis. The four of them were in final discussions about putting up Chennai Picklersss by Sports Den, a state of the art indoor Pickleball facility at Porur that […]

When four of Chennai’s leading club tennis players Vikram Seshasayee, Sooraj Viswanathan, G Rajesh and B Venkteshwar met up in November 2024, it was not to discuss tennis. The four of them were in final discussions about putting up Chennai Picklersss by Sports Den, a state of the art indoor Pickleball facility at Porur that […]

A fitness trainer at a gymnasium in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran Thiruvananthapuram’s rapidly growing network of upscale health clubs is emerging as a youngster’s mecca for employment. Hundreds of youth from struggling working-class families with an affinity for bodybuilding are becoming certified physical trainers to cash in on the fitness fad. Most seem […]

Saurabh Bothra, 32, is everyone’s favourite ‘son’. Maybe that’s because he has mastered the ability to get even the most inactive women to exercise and feel better about themselves. He lives by the ‘yoga everyday’ motto printed on his white tee, showing up for them every single day since he launched his self-funded online yoga […]

An exclusive cycling competition will be conducted for kids in the age group of 8 to 12 in a safe environment | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Chennai Cycling Thiruvizha is a carnival dedicated to all things cycling. This annual event brings together cyclists, the general public, and businesses, creating a space to engage and […]

Raj Ganpath | Photo Credit: Johan Sathyadas In the introduction to his debut book, Simple, Not Easy, Raj Ganpath says that the book is an unusual mix of science, reason and positivity meant to provide clarity and inspiration. There is a consistent reference to the word ‘simple’ all through his book. It makes sense if […]

At 66 years, K Selvanayagam is of the firm belief that running is in everyone’s blood. “If you decide to run and have the resolve to see this through, the rest of your life — your schedule will automatically fall into place,” he says. This is definitely the case for the Chennai resident, whose day […]

Amitash says his life is now scheduled keeping in mind his pickleball game time in the evenings.  “Three to four days a week, I get together with a large group to play and we have at least one court booked in advance for the month. I much prefer getting my cardio outdoors, and through a […]

Hyrox races are a spectator sport with the audience following athletes from start to finish | Photo Credit: Special arrangement They travel the world to pant and sweat through floodlit stadiums, lugging kettle bells and pounding race tracks. What is this new-age race that has men and women lace up their shoes to alternate between […]

There is a certain level of madness to those who dedicate their lives to high-endurance events. After all, there is no glittering cash prize awaiting them at the finish line, no international medal bringing fame. Most often, they get a certificate and a medal or shield commemorating their feat. And yet, these individuals wake up […]

Watch: Fitness coaches are now swinging Hanuman gadas | Video Credit: The Hindu Akharas, a place of practice for Indian martial arts, are not for everyone. Traditionally a macho, male domain, they demand years of determination, sweat and perseverance. “Boys must start with rope climbing, swimming and Indian burpees. Only after three to four years […]

Watch: Fitness coaches are now swinging Hanuman gadas | Video Credit: The Hindu Akharas, a place of practice for Indian martial arts, are not for everyone. Traditionally a macho, male domain, they demand years of determination, sweat and perseverance. “Boys must start with rope climbing, swimming and Indian burpees. Only after three to four years […]

“I will not sell to a man with a big belly,” declares Gyanshankul Singh. As multifaceted as he is opinionated, Singh teaches wrestlers at the 490-year-old Swaminathan Akhara in Varanasi, in addition to being a certified strength coach, an arm wrestler and a self-confessed poet. He also makes traditional wooden fitness equipment that Indian wrestlers […]

As the marathon season approaches, the running community of Visakhapatnam is in full gear, preparing with vigour and discipline. Various running groups in the city have embraced a structured approach to training, with emphasis on injury prevention, fitness and fostering camaraderie among runners. For many, these activities are a mix of disciplined preparation, community support, […]

A still from the previous edition of the race. | Photo Credit: NEERAJ DEV VARMA The earliest known set of obstacle course races (OCR) were created by armies to test the endurance of soldiers in hostile battlegrounds. To run with steady feet, climb with strength, and lunge forth with brute force, were essential in the […]

Na Murali at his gym, Fitzone in Chennai | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B Na Murali’s tryst with fitness began during his teenage years, when he got fascinated with judo, a Japanese martial art. His coach would teach him the basics , but that seemed insufficient for him. As a restless and enthusiastic 17 year […]

Tarakesh Kolli performing at a dapostar workshop in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Visakhapatnam will experience a new wave of creative expression with the city’s first dapostar workshop. Scheduled to take place this weekend at the VUDA Park, the event will introduce participants to dapostar, a type of flow art — a vibrant fusion […]

The tide is high. Lean waves lap against the curved shoreline of Kovalam. P Harish, all of seven, has caught sight of a promising wave. He chases after it, and in a quick swerve, tames the to-be giant. His surfboard is easily twice his size.   Not too far away, in an endearing show of fine […]

Participants ahead of the Sari Marathon on Sunday | Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN Weekends  are never dull or quiet near Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School, a stretch that sees marathons, walks and rallies in quick succession. When we head there early on Sunday, one side of the road has been taken over by a large […]

In shirodhara, a combination of ksheerabala oil is poured onto the forehead and then massaged to keep the stress away | Photo Credit: PERIASAMY M Karkidakam, the darkest month marked by heavy rains in the Malayalam calendar that falls between July and August, brings about a complete shift in culinary practices. Oushada kanji or marunnu […]

Women participating in the Handloom Sari Walk on the beach road in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: V RAJU Visakhapatnam is set to host a vibrant celebration with a three-kilometre sari walk along Beach Road, ahead of National Handloom Day (August 7). The second edition of the event organised by The Spirit of Vizag Society aims […]

A little after dawn breaks over Elliots beach, there are cones being placed on the sand to demarcate areas to play on. A group of children take on an equally motley crew of teens, passing a frisbee and blocking their opponents, running and jumping across the sand. All around, similar pockets have matches going on, […]

Milind Soman with mother Usha and wife Ankita Konwar | Photo Credit: Special arrangement This past spring, Milind Soman and wife Ankita Konwar matched step-for-step running the breadth of Europe. They are back now in Lower Parel, Mumbai, dialling in for a video call along with Usha Soman, Milind’s 84-year-old mother, a retired Biochemistry lecturer, […]

In the silence of the music and the stillness of the movement , the expansive space of objectivity unfolds while I dance. In this space, everything seems leisurely, there is no urgency in the unfolding of characters and no visible end to this state of awareness. But as the muktayam plays, the awareness and objectivity […]

Mind Muscle Connection “Fitness is not weight loss,” personal fitness trainer V Manokaran busts the myth as we enter his training studio, Mind Muscle Connection in Avaramaplayam. One you walk past the gleaming rows of kettle bells and dumbbells, what greets you is an array of customised fitness equipment built from scratch by Manokaran, who […]

Vijay Malhotra and his 101 bells cycle | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Until recently, Vijay Malhotra was busy as a sales planner with a media house in Mumbai. Then a fortnight ago, he took out his bicycle — Firefox Road Runner Pro fitted with 101 uniquely crafted bells with charming designs — and rode through the […]

People enjoying at the newly opened trampoline park and soft play area at Port Stadium in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak If you are looking for high-flying, gravity-defying fun in Visakhapatnam, the newly-opened trampoline park at Vishwanadh Sports Club, Port Stadium, has a lot to offer. The indoor entertainment zone has exhilarating activities for […]

Children practicing karra Samu, a traditional martial arts sport of Andhra Pradesh, at VMRDA Central Park in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak A sudden burst of energy fills the air one evening at VMRDA Central Park. With sticks in hand, a team consisting of people of a mixed age group, launches into action. Eyes […]

Children participating at the summer camp by Vishwanadh Sports Club at Port Stadium in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Whether your child loves to kick the football, revels at archery or is a budding artist at heart, here is a summer camp that has a plethora of options under one roof. Learn a new […]

At 6am, when much of Chennai experiences its last few REM cycles, a handful of rowers at the Madras Boat Club (MBC) can be seen dragging their boats out of the dock and entering the Adyar river. In twos, fours, eights and sometimes the rare single scull, they splice through the ripples of the once-sedate […]

The Jungly Glow Up has various wellness sessions scheduled for attendees. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement As the pandemic continues to reshape our priorities, the spotlight is on health and wellness. Recognising the need to make wellness enjoyable and accessible, Ananya Bhandare and Pratishtha Rawat, certified health practitioners, have teamed up to introduce Jungly Glow […]

Pilots from Indigo dip their feet as they sail at the Chennai Harbour. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement At the Spring Haven Wharf where Chennai’s violent summer sun has settled comfortably in the sky, a group of pilots, accustomed to navigating the clouds, is making its way to J80 class sailboats (racing keelboats) at the […]

Participants at pervious editions of the WCCG Aalam Deepam Duathlon | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When the fourth edition of WCCG’s (Chennai Cycling Group) Aalam Deepam Duathlon took place in 2023, the city was still reeling from the grips of the pandemic. Participants who had registered for this event, raced virtually and solitarily to the […]

Dr Umesh Bhammarkar at Pangong | Photo Credit: Special arrangement This month (February 2024), Dr Umesh Bhammarkar from Hyderabad ran one of the most difficult marathons. He ran on the frozen Pangong Lake (world’s highest saltwater lake) in Leh Ladakh. The lake is located at an altitude of 14,272 feet and around 120 athletes from around […]

At the beginning of every year, a wave of zealous resolutions emerge. Reading, travelling, prioritising mental health, fitness, and weight loss seem to make it to the top of everyone’s list. Motivation peaks and gyms invariably witness a surge in memberships. Promises of a healthier lifestyle, chiselled physique, and gym-honed resilience are etched into the […]

Chennai’s brief yet wonderful winter mornings are upon us and the streets are teeming with walkers, runners and cyclists, keen to begin or uphold their tryst with good health. It would be a crime to waste this time indoors. If you are looking to ditch the gym and get a breath of fresh air, here […]

What is pickleball? It’s a question that K Mohit Kumar gets often. It’s a question he loves answering. Even as he skilfully chops the ball on a windy Saturday morning at the recently-held South India Pickleball Premier League at Hotfut SPR Sports in Perambur, Mohit answers questions from curious onlookers. He was introduced to the […]

Come mid-July, the skies in Kerala turn grey, the temperature drops and the rain falls without respite. It is the start of Karkkadakam, the last month of the Malayalam calendar. With farming coming to a halt and people forced indoors, the time is traditionally used to rejuvenate the body and mind. Many traditional customs are […]

A file photo of a gym. Gym users consume protein powders as dietary supplements to gain muscle mass. | Photo Credit: Representational photo Karnataka Government would launch a special drive to create awareness among fitness enthusiasts who frequent gyms about the side-effects of unmonitored and unsafe consumption of protein powders, Law and Parliamentary Minister J.C. […]

A collage of the authors who contributed to ‘Talking Fingers’ | Photo Credit: Special arrangement In my mind, I’m hopeful that in times to come I’ll be able to control my thoughts. I can’t control my movements always, so others may think that I don’t know things. Suppose you ask me to bring something; despite […]

Bikers at Nandi Hills | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Bengaluru’s ‘bicycle mayor’ Sathya Sankaran reckons the bicycling community here is no less vibrant than the ones in other cities. As a hobby, biking has been fast-growing in Bengaluru especially since the pandemic. If you recently started biking and are wondering where to ride, we got […]

Dr Raghuram | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Picture this: According to a study by Globocon 2020, In India, every four minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. With some 1,78,000 new cases being diagnosed every year, the incidence of breast cancer has overtaken cervical cancer to become the most common cancer in Indian women. […]

Actor Ramya Subramanian | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Mozhi actor Ramya Subramanian, who made her debut as an anchor at the age of 15, says she faced body shaming that forced her to resort to extreme measures, from cutting back drastically on food to working out constantly to hide her “flaws”. Popularly known as VJ […]

Padmavathi Pottabathini | Photo Credit: Special arrangement A journey that started as a search to find her feet steered her towards becoming a support to people with special needs. Set to receive the national award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2022 under the category Sarvshreshth Divyangan on December 3 from […]

Latha Srinivasan: Dream Run At this year’s National Masters Athletics Championships, Latha Srinivasan, 62, won three silver medals — in 5K, 1500m, and 800m. She finished her first marathon last year. At an age when most people retire from sports and athletics, she has just begun.  Until four years ago, her exposure to sports was […]

Sakshi Malik, first Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics My Resolution: As a sportsperson I am physically fit as I train throughout the year and eat right. This year, to further enhance my physical and mental wellbeing I am adding yoga to my schedule, and plan to focus more on it. My […]

When many men his age struggle to walk without support, Air Marshal P. V. Iyer (retired), goes for a run every morning. At 93, he stands ramrod straight and gives a firm handshake to send across a message. Age is truly just a number in his case. Celebrated Japanese writer Haruki Murakami’s book What I […]

Ride the waves Vipin Chourey glides and then flies over the backwaters making it look like a miracle. But he is actually on an eFoil board, slicing through the waters. A new introduction to Chennai’s water sport scene, eFoiling is like surfing. However, the board is powered by a battery and also comes with a […]

My kidney has won!” Anil Srivatsa mouthed that wacky line, one certain to have struck a ludicruous note anywhere else, but not on that day in Newcastle. He could expect only smiling acknowledgements from every direction. At this games which provoked that rather off-the-wall celebration, every participant was one of two things — either an […]

A panoramic image of the Old Course at St. Andrew’s, Scotland is plastered across the putting green | Photo Credit: Preethi Ajit As the golf ball rolls, its pace resembles the slow inertia of the sport. Usually played over four days, golf has not quite qualified as a sport that animates people when broadcast. But this […]

Early risers and morning joggers along the ECR are used to a fluorescent green helmet gliding down every day at 4am. Wearing it is Priya D, a member of WCCG (Chennai Cycling Group started by Divagaran Thiyagarajan), who cycles every morning down that stretch to the music of Sia’s ‘Unstoppable’ playing from the speaker attached […]

Sailboats taking part in the Unifi Capital Offshore Regatta 2023 It has only been half an hour since the last of the sailboats has arrived at Chennai harbour after the finals of the second edition of the Unifi Capital Offshore Regatta on April 7. The famished participants who have been at sea for over 10 […]

CBD oil in tea | Photo Credit: iStock images Access to the city’s first medical cannabis clinic is via a steep, winding staircase, leading from a busy tattoo studio. It feels appropriately niche, given the tumultuous history and notoriety of marijuana in India. However, Cansaa, which its CEO Naveen Kumar calls “India’s first integrative healing […]

Clockwise from bottom left: Binu Harikumar, Usha Mohan, Radhika Mijulal and Lakshmi Vishwanathan, dancers at Dharani School of Performing Arts in Kochi, Kerala | Photo Credit: Special arrangement “The moment of seniors taking to dance has come,” says Geetha Mathen. In 2006 she founded Natya Vyayaama in Kochi to encourage older women to dance and […]

Dawn is breaking on Shangumukham beach in Thiruvananthapuram. Emil Thomas Sony launches a frisbee into one of his trademark long throws to his team’s cutter Madhav Dev, who runs and dives into the end zone of the field to catch the flying disc and gain a valuable point for his team. Grammar of the Game […]

Manoj Sakunthalan, 24, is Tamil Nadu state medallist in Karate. He started learning karate at the age of five from his father and brother, both of whom are national medallists. From Madurai, Manoj now teaches more than 30 students in the 4 to 40 age group. He says the martial art has taught him self-confidence, […]

We’ve entered a post-COVID world, but one that has left India’s youth with a set of health challenges in its wake. A generation of under-25s saw major milestones through the pandemic: some became adults over the last three years, some graduated, some got their first jobs. Health, both mental and physical became a priority in […]

Kerala Ultimate practise session at Kochi as they prepare for the Bharat Tournament scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from June 2 to June 4 | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT A team of 26 players is set to represent Kerala at Ultimate Frisbee, an inter-State flying disc tournament scheduled in Hyderabad from June 2-4. Preparations […]

Vehicles parked on designated cycle tracks, painted green by CSML, on the Rajendra Maidan-Abraham Madamakkal Road corridor, leave no space for cyclists. | Photo Credit: H. Vibhu The United Nations declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day to acknowledge the bicycle’s importance as a means of transport. Even as more people have embraced cycling in […]

 Inmates of Sri Chitra Home in Thiruvananthapuram learn how to ride a bicycle | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT As always Prakash P Gopinath, Bicycle Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, has several plans to encourage more people to enjoy the ride, on a bicycle. On the occasion of World Bicycle Day today (June 3), Prakash plans to scale […]

Naveen wearing his medals and holding the Indian flag Each time athlete and entrepreneur Percival Naveen Howie enters the field, he enters with a yearning to inspire his sons. So, when he picked up the shot put at the 2023 Asia Pacific Master’s meet in South Korea between May 12 and 20, he took with […]

N Muthamizh Selvi at the Everest summit | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement At 12.20 a.m. on May 23, N Muthamizh Selvi, a teacher of Japanese from Tamil Nadu, was among the first people to summit Mount Everest for the day. Nobody scales the peak during this hour though. Summit ascents usually occur at three and […]

Madhuri Palli, the first female runner from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to have completed the grueling Comrades Marathon in South Africa. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “The atmosphere during the run was electrifying with people of all age groups cheering us all along the route. The energy kept me going. I was running with a […]

LuLu Hypermarket | Photo Credit: Siva Saravanan S The first impression takes your breath away. Day two at the newly-opened LuLu Hypermarket, located at Lakshmi Mills Compound on Avinashi Road is nothing short of a celebration. It’s 6pm and the massive corridor at the mall is packed with shoppers in thousands across sections featuring a […]

(From Right) Erika Patel, Chandrasekhar G, Vasu Rangachary, Dharmendar Bafna, Rose Naidu, Yasmin Gulab The road to success at the gruelling Comrades Marathon in South Africa is pock-marked with perseverance, sweat, and tireless hours of running. People from around the world begin preparing at least five months ahead, running nearly 100 kilometres each week, to […]

Minutes before getting dropped off mid-ocean at Kovalam (Covelong) for our first open water swimming lesson, Murthy Megavan, the founder of Murthy Surf School, tells me that I am to strap on my life jacket and wait at a spot 100 metres from the shore, marked only by random bobbing waves. “Just relax and talk […]

Visakhapatnam girls Dontara Greeshma and Akula Sai Samhitha who will be representing India at the Asian Games in the free style artistic skating event to be held in China. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It’s a sunny morning at Dhelpur, a suburb in Mohali, where a team of skaters is practising under the watchful eyes […]

As I inched closer to the top of the 10-foot high climbing wall at the Bounce indoor adventure park, a scene from The Dark Knight Rises came to mind, where Bruce Wayne escapes an underground prison with a death-defying leap. As I recall the scene, my instructor, Nidhi Paradkar, shouts, “Sir, you just need to […]

At 6.45am on an uneventful day in July, seven trekkers and I wished each other cheery ‘good mornings’ at our campsite in Trunkhol, Kashmir, some 3,500 metres above sea level. Amidst idyllic rolling green meadows where horses grazed, we sat chomping down a hearty breakfast of omelette, buttered toast, Maggi and kahwa, at the foot […]

R Muthukutti who won the Palk Bay Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) championship. R Muthukutti, V Muthumariammal and R Ramalakshmi have never lived by the sea. Two out of them do not swim and have barely had the chance to encounter large water bodies. A regular day in their life consists of a morning routine […]

On the first trip to a bouldering gym, apprehension takes over. As you step into your shoes and warm up for your first climb, the feeling persists. But once you conquer your first boulder, the feeling of accomplishment leaves you wanting more. Indoor bouldering, which is beginner-friendly and easily accessible, is finding more takers as […]

Reeni Tharakan power lifting at Ulaanbaataar | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT When Reeni Tharakan hit the gym 10 years ago, at 53, it was driven by a desire to lose weight and stay healthy. The last thing on her mind was powerlifting, let alone winning gold medals at international powerlifting competitions. She won four gold […]

There is a steady drizzle at 6.30am and when I look up, the skies are ominous. I am standing at the corner of Besant Avenue road, next to Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Park. There is a new addition to that corner — a towering arch in green and orange. A well-lit sign declares — ‘Healthwalk Start’ […]

They may be called India’s late bloomers in the world of sports. It makes them more inspiring. These confident women have displayed skill, grit and determination, practising all year round to win District, State and National-level sporting competitions. All to enter the international area and bring home the gold. Their statement is loud and clear […]