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Importance of being an allround sportsperson

Talking to one of India’s topmost coaches, Nonita Lall Quereshi, about sport and fitness, I was taken aback when she informed me that even though junior golfers are enthusiastic about the game they must constantly be encouraged to play other sports.

Importance of being an allround sportsperson

Young golfers gettiing a lesson at the Chandigarh Golf Range. File



Shona A Singh

Talking to one of India’s topmost coaches, Nonita Lall Quereshi, about sport and fitness, I was taken aback when she informed me that even though junior golfers are enthusiastic about the game they must constantly be encouraged to play other sports. She went on to add: “Since young children’s muscles and bones are constantly growing and developing they must be encouraged to run or play sports like soccer. If they continue to play only golf, chances are that they will end up with injuries or burn out in the long run.”

Though quite contrary to what most parents follow, her advice rings true. A few names immediately come to mind when one thinks of junior golfers — once considered child prodigies — who figure nowhere in the sporting world. Shivin Kwatra, one such leading amateur, left for college in the US but one rarely hears of him playing on the current professional tours. Others like Anjali Chopra, who was in Chandigarh recently to attend a training program, said, “I have injured my back and can barely manage to play nine holes. After that I am in agony.”

However, she has taken to coaching and maintains her passion for the game.

Sukhwinder Singh, father of Manjot and Jujhar who are regulars on the various junior tours, says: “We are here after school everyday and play all the tournaments that we can. However, I am trying to encourage them to play football as a second sport.”

Vikram Singh Jolly takes his two boys Ivan, 6, and Niel, 3, to the practice range every morning before school. “He started taking them in the morning and it just became a routine,” says his wife Seema. “Ivan also plays soccer and tennis, while swimming and gymnastics are seasonal. Niel plays all these sports.”

Ivan made a mark in the US World Juniors this summer.

One father who is planning it all perfectly is a former caddie, Gurvinder Singh, known in Chandigarh’s golfing circles as Ambarsaria. “Madamji,” he says, “I take my son to the athletics track three times a week before the golf range,” says Singh, who often caddies for Jeev Milkha Singh.

Mahesh, who coaches a number of juniors at the Chandigarh Golf Range says, “We recently had our Junior Level 2 training program and learnt that fitness is very important. Most kids who come to us are not familiar with outdoor activities as they spend a lot of their time indoors so they face a lot of speed and strength problems in the game.

“Parents also pressure children to hit the ball long and do not understand that only if they are strong can they hit the ball longer. About 90 percent of the children are not fit and those who are, usually play a second sport like football or tennis.”

Mahesh adds that fitness helps in improving contact, direction and distance. Children who play other sports build better hand-eye co-ordination. Fun activities like jumping, jogging and commando race help build speed and balance.

Roopa Singh, mother of Incheon Asian Games silver-medalist tennis player Sanam Singh, says, “In the present times our children’s lives are dependent on computers, cellphones and other electronic media and they have lost the importance of being outdoors or playing a sport. Sport helps in overall growth and personality development and helps build life skills and leadership qualities. However it is important for a child to play sport and enjoy the thrill of competition without the pressure to perform. I think it is wrong for parents to live their passion through their children.”

She also tells of a time when a leading cricketer asked her whether she had to wake her son every morning at five for practice or whether he got up on his own. “Is it your dream or your child’s,” he had asked.

This point is important, because the child should be more passionate about playing sport than the parents. To make that possible, kids should be allowed to pick and play other sports of their choice as well.

 

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