Age can’t confine ambition: Vickey Deol

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, June 23

Harpreet Singh, alias Vickey Deol, a resident of Sultanpur Lodhi, is an inspiration for many budding sportspersons. He has various records registered in the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records for performing 59 push-ups in one minute on two thumbs. The 41-year-old is now gearing up to make few more records worldwide.

Deol is set to fly to London in the coming month to conduct fitness camps and give training to people who want a career in the field of sports and martial arts. He said his name would soon appear in the list of the Guinness Book of Records soon as the registered record which claims 33 push-ups on a thumb in a minute, has now been broken by him.

As a black belt holder from the Karate Association of India, he holds many achievements at the district, state and national level. Registering his name in the India Book of Records in 2017, he also holds the ‘Sho Dan certificate’ from the Karate Association of India which is the legal certificate required to claim an entry into Olympics. He has also received an honour from the First All-India Okinawa Gojuryu Karatedo Kugekai training camp and the Black Belt Organisation for his outstanding performance in martial arts. In 1993, he participated in the State Karatedo Championship of Punjab Amateur Karatedo Association held in Sangrur and won a gold medal.

“This was my passion since childhood. I am into fitness since long and have been participating in sports from the time I was in Class III. I had keen interest in kho-kho and kabaddi and bagged various medals and certificates. At a time when we used to practise sports, we never knew its importance and no one was there to guide me as where to go and what steps do I need to take to get my name registered in the world’s renowned list of sportspersons,” said Vickey Deol.

“My life has got a new direction now and it has completely changed after I made this record of 59 push-ups in one minute. Since my childhood, I had a keen interest in fitness. Although I am not a professional coach, but I love giving fitness lessons to the youth who approach me for guidance. During my initial days, I took training from Naveen Sharma, who always inspired me to remain focused,” said Vickey, who feels age is just a number when a person is ambitious and dedicated to his dreams.

Sharing his fitness mantra, he said, “My mother is my role model, it was her firm belief that I will definitely break records in sports one day and she always fed me nutritious and healthy food. She remains very possessive regarding my diet and make sure that I do my exercises daily.” He said every person should perform at least a 30-minute walk or routine exercises to remain healthy and fit.