Children practicing karra Samu, a traditional martial arts sport of Andhra Pradesh, at VMRDA Central Park in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak A sudden burst of energy fills the air one evening at VMRDA Central Park. With sticks in hand, a team consisting of people of a mixed age group, launches into action. Eyes locked in concentration, their hands move with precision, executing intricate strikes and blocks with effortless grace. The movements flow seamlessly from one technique to another, showcasing the beauty of the martial art form of karrasamu (stick fencing). This traditional martial art form of Andhra Pradesh…

Children participating at the summer camp by Vishwanadh Sports Club at Port Stadium in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Whether your child loves to kick the football, revels at archery or is a budding artist at heart, here is a summer camp that has a plethora of options under one roof. Learn a new sport, unleash creativity, or hone your musical talent at this mix of outdoor and indoor summer camp being hosted at the Port Stadium, Akkayapalem, by Vishwanadh Sports Club. Set to begin from April 29, the camp offers a six-week extravaganza filled with activities for children…

At 6am, when much of Chennai experiences its last few REM cycles, a handful of rowers at the Madras Boat Club (MBC) can be seen dragging their boats out of the dock and entering the Adyar river. In twos, fours, eights and sometimes the rare single scull, they splice through the ripples of the once-sedate waterbody with a gentle ease and unwavering focus. Everything is quiet except for the bird calls and the rippling water underneath. The only interruptions are the occasional instructions to steer the boat right; and the consistent thump of moving oars. “When the boat cuts through…

The Jungly Glow Up has various wellness sessions scheduled for attendees. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement As the pandemic continues to reshape our priorities, the spotlight is on health and wellness. Recognising the need to make wellness enjoyable and accessible, Ananya Bhandare and Pratishtha Rawat, certified health practitioners, have teamed up to introduce Jungly Glow Up — a wellness festival on Sunday. It promises to redefine the way we approach self-care. Jungly Glow Up has a fun matcha session for the attendees. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “Health and wellness should be fun and inclusive,” says Ananya, Founder of Jungly…

Pilots from Indigo dip their feet as they sail at the Chennai Harbour. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement At the Spring Haven Wharf where Chennai’s violent summer sun has settled comfortably in the sky, a group of pilots, accustomed to navigating the clouds, is making its way to J80 class sailboats (racing keelboats) at the Harbour, hoping to try their hand at controlling the waves. For many, who are still in their stiff white and blue uniform, it is their first time onboard a sailboat. “I have lived in Chennai all my life but have never been to sailing in…

Participants at pervious editions of the WCCG Aalam Deepam Duathlon | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When the fourth edition of WCCG’s (Chennai Cycling Group) Aalam Deepam Duathlon took place in 2023, the city was still reeling from the grips of the pandemic. Participants who had registered for this event, raced virtually and solitarily to the whirr of their cycle chain. They sped down familiar lanes, huffing and puffing to finish the first leg — the run, and eventually completed with what they did best — cycle. “One could’ve been in Timbaktoo and participated in the race. All they would’ve had…

Dr Umesh Bhammarkar at Pangong | Photo Credit: Special arrangement This month (February 2024), Dr Umesh Bhammarkar from Hyderabad ran one of the most difficult marathons. He ran on the frozen Pangong Lake (world’s highest saltwater lake) in Leh Ladakh. The lake is located at an altitude of 14,272 feet and around 120 athletes from around the world participated in this marathon organised by Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh with the support of the Administration Union Territory of Ladakh and 14 corps of the Indian Army. The World’s Highest Frozen Lake Marathon-2024 is officially registered in the Guinness Book of World…

At the beginning of every year, a wave of zealous resolutions emerge. Reading, travelling, prioritising mental health, fitness, and weight loss seem to make it to the top of everyone’s list. Motivation peaks and gyms invariably witness a surge in memberships. Promises of a healthier lifestyle, chiselled physique, and gym-honed resilience are etched into the collective consciousness.  Training at simpleSTRONG | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement However, beneath the neon glow of fitness ambitions lies a phenomenon — inevitable waning consistency. Come February, gyms that once buzzed with January’s fervour fall silent, as resolutions shift from commitment to quiet echoes of…

Chennai’s brief yet wonderful winter mornings are upon us and the streets are teeming with walkers, runners and cyclists, keen to begin or uphold their tryst with good health. It would be a crime to waste this time indoors. If you are looking to ditch the gym and get a breath of fresh air, here are four mostly traffic-free stretches that have emerged as a paradise for walkers amidst the concrete shackles that make the city.  Velachery People walking and jogging in the early morning at Velachery. | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ_B A snug, little freeway between Perungudi MRTS and…

What is pickleball? It’s a question that K Mohit Kumar gets often. It’s a question he loves answering. Even as he skilfully chops the ball on a windy Saturday morning at the recently-held South India Pickleball Premier League at Hotfut SPR Sports in Perambur, Mohit answers questions from curious onlookers. He was introduced to the sport in 2019 through a family friend visiting from the US, where it’s a fast-growing sport, and has been playing it since. For the uninitiated, pickleball combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. Played both indoors and outdoors with a paddle and a ball,…