Experts call for sports culture to improve fitness

HYDERABAD: Experts in sports and technology and former sportspersons on Monday emphasized the importance of promoting sports culture to promote healthy living at an event organised by Phylpt, a sports and technology organisation, to create awareness of physical fitness and the need for physical literacy.

Speaking at the event, badminton coach and Arjuna awardee Pullela Gopichand spoke on the importance of developing sports culture, the way it has grown in the past 20 years, and its correlation to physical health, with regards to increased productivity and combating diseases.

The company said that developing fundamental movement skills like running, jumping, throwing, catching, and kicking is essential for building confidence and competence in movement. Enjoying a physical activity will lead to a positive attitude towards exercise, it said.

Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary of IT, also emphasized the importance of physical literacy, speaking about how the Khelo India Movement has been beneficial in bringing out talents and developing sports culture.

Speakers on fitness said it was key for young children as well, to build cardiovascular health, muscle, and health, besides improving academic performance. They said it will also equip children to cope with mental stress and make them less susceptible to chronic health conditions later in life.

An official for Phylpt said: “We have developed a methodical approach to talent detection, grounded in science, that fosters the development of robust and professional sports profiles. Our primary objective is to promote physical activity awareness and inspire children to embrace an active and wholesome lifestyle.”