Cricket, carrom and PUBG keeps Satwiksairaj busy
The Indian shuttler is mixing fun with some serious workout to keep him in shape during the lockdown.
There’s barely a dull moment in Satwiksairaj Rankireddy’s life. And his social media profiles can testify to this.
Be it on tour, playing matches across the world, or be it confined to his house in Amalapuram, a town in Andhra Pradesh, the 19-year-old loves to keep himself busy. And this is probably the secret behind the undying energy he brings on the court.
Though the Indian badminton international is away from the action since the past few weeks, given a nation-wide lockdown in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy is ensuring that he’s keeping himself engaged within his house limits.
“I do workouts twice a day. I also play cricket, carrom and PUBG (mobile video game),” the teenager told the New Indian Express in a recent interview.
While cricket and PUBG in pure entreating for the world no. 10 shuttler, the workouts that Satwiksairaj Rankireddy was talking about is serious stuff.
Online sessions aiding Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
The Gopichand Badminton Academy where he trains has been doing their best to ensure that the elite shuttlers are staying on top of their fitness game during such an uncertain time.
Dinaz Vervatwala, a trainer at the academy, has been leading the online sessions with about 90 shuttlers joining in from various parts of the country. And for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy the initiative is helping him stay in shape even without any court time.
“The workouts given by Dinaz are effective. On alternate days, we do a video call from 4-5 pm and everybody practises together. The workouts are of good intensity. I feel we are becoming physically stronger.”
While the online sessions are helping the Indian badminton player stay involved in the process, and some wall practice at home is ensuring he maintains his touch, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy is also wary of his diet.
“I’m conscious that I will get fat now. But I am controlling my consumption. I am avoiding rice at night,” he said.
“My physiotherapist has advised something light for dinner. I feel I am in better shape than before. At the same time, I’m getting good food and proper sleep. When we are in the academy, there will be days when you sleep late. Sometimes, we have cheat days and order biryani. Here, it’s homemade and healthy.”
In his own ways, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy is trying not to lose his touch during the pandemic. It might not be easy, especially with no access to courts for the foreseeable future, but the Indian international is eager to do his best.