Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Winning in any sport involves a lot of determination and hard work, more so in the life of a sportswoman. Elaborate on your training routine to achieve focus much needed in your sport? What precautions do you take to handle muscle wear & tear?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
Times have changed a lot now, there is a lot more awareness about the importance of fitness. There are physiotherapists provided by my sponsors Olympic Gold Quest who travel with us for international competitions, and they monitor our muscle condition. If we have any muscle injury, then they help us in treating it.
The precautions that I take to avoid any muscle injury is to keep myself hydrated. Water is a vital component for physical performance and muscle growth. There are a lot of times that we forget to do the same, but I have an app on my phone which constantly reminds me to drink water.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Sports-specific nutrition is an integral part of a sports person. Share with us the diet pattern that you follow to stay healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
When at home, I love to eat dal, rice and home cooked vegetables (greens being my favourite). But due to constant travelling for international competitions, I’m mostly away from home. I usually include more of protein in my diet. Our body uses protein to build and repair tissues, and it has a lot of health benefits.
For breakfast I eat 2 egg whites, a bowl of papaya and a glass of milk. At about 11am my mother gives me fresh beetroot, carrot or orange juice depending on the season. If I am at home, then my lunch comprises of a bowl of dal, a green vegetable and 2 rotis and if I’m travelling abroad for a competition, then I eat salmon with a bowl of salad. At around 4pm, I eat a fruit and a bowl of makhanas. I absolutely love eating makhanas, and they have a lot of health benefits as well. I eat dinner before 8pm. I mostly eat grilled chicken breast for dinner.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Being a professional athlete, you are a role model for many striving to make their dream come true, provide us with words of inspiration to help others climb up the ladder of success in this field? What according to you is the right age to begin preparation for any sport? Any Beginner tips?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
Always remember that there is no shortcut to success. You have to keep working hard. There will be ups and downs, you will win on some days and loose on some. But if you don’t loose, you cannot enjoy the victories. The key is to never give up. Do all that it takes to achieve your dreams and push your limits and challenge yourself everyday.
I think the age limit can vary depending on the sport. A sport like 10m rifle shooting should be picked up around the age of 13-14 years. The position that we take in 10m rifle shooting puts weight on our lower back and that can effect the shape of the spine in children. The weight of the rifle being 4-5kgs heavy as well.
There are lots of other sports which can be picked up at an earlier stage in life.
