Milkha Singh urges Indian youth to adopt healthy eating habits and exercise
The former Olympian also stressed on mental health and the benefits of sweating it out regularly
At the age of 91, Milkha Singh makes it a point to wake up early and take a stroll to a nearby park or lake to carry out his regular fitness exercises.
He emphasizes on a healthy diet and maintaining physical fitness to remain sharp and active. His mantra revolves around hard work and dedication which he thinks to be primary to achieve one's targets.
"Hatho ki lakeroon se jindagi nahi badlti. Without hard work, dedication and willpower no one can achieve his goals. Anyone can become anything if he or she has will power and courage to do something," Milkha advised during an online workshop.
The Padma Shri awardee emphasized the need to eat healthy and do physical exercises for at least 10-15 minutes every day.
"I do two things for fitness. Every disease forms through the stomach. If your stomach is alright then no disease can touch you. No.2 is exercise. It very important for every person," said Singh.
"At 91, I wake up, and go to a park or lake for exercise everyday, Work on my stomach and back. It is keeping me fit. I suggest everyone to go to the park for 10 minutes and exercise," stated the former athlete during an interaction with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju a few days back.
The gold medal winner of 1958 Tokyo Asian Games harbours hopes that an Indian athlete will finish on top in a track event in the Olympics in the near future.
He was joined by Yadvinder Singh, a former national athlete who once trained under Milkha Singh. Like his mentor, he also asserted the importance of fitness and physical activities.
"Fitness is the most important thing which plays a key role in every successful career. It gives you the confidence and boosts your morale to do your best, whether it's in work or study. To live a healthy life, first, you should love yourself, because, without self-love, care and motivation will never come into you," he stated.
He also highlighted the banes of social media as these platforms have severe impacts on a person's mental health. He advised meditation for everyone to get mental peace.