A ONE ON ONE WITH
CRICKETER IRFAN PATHAN
HEALTH magazine met with
Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan at
the Thumbay Hospital Count Your
Steps to Beat Diabetes campaign
who explained how he keeps
healthy and fit.
four hours daily as a sportsman. This includes gym
work, field work, bowling, and batting. All of these
factors contribute to my overall fitness.
Q) What is the link between injury
and fitness?
Pathan: Fortunately, I have a good physiotherapist
who has explained which kinds of exercises are
suitable for me, especially with regards to the knees,
the shoulders, and the back. Overall, cricketers
undergo tremendous impact on these areas as these
are the main injuries a cricketer sustains. Therefore,
we must ensure that these bones and joints are fully
supported. It’s important to remember that everyone
has a unique body type; therefore some exercises may
not be suitable for everyone. Your fitness program
should be personalized.
Q) What does today’s Diabetes
Awareness campaign mean to you?
Q) Besides cricket,
what is your favorite sport?
Pathan: I quite enjoy playing table tennis even though it
is a non-strenuous sport.
Q) What is the number one way you
keep fit?
Pathan: I feel that training and eating healthy are both
very important factors for optimal fitness. In fact, I have
recently increased the portions of fruits and vegetables in
my diet. With regards to training, I train around three to
Pathan: I have witnessed the tremendous impact that
diabetes has on overall health as both of my parents
are diabetic. Individuals with diabetes must lead a
healthy lifestyle to ensure their diabetes is monitored
and controlled. I always advise my parents to partake
in daily walks and avoid foods which are high in
sugar. Most importantly, diabetes awareness can
help people understand the importance of leading a
healthy lifestyle.
Q) Please provide fitness
tips for our readers.
Pathan: The most obvious tip is to avoid smoking.
Whenever possible, aim to sleep early and wake up
early as there is countless health benefits associated
with this habit. H
Mar/Apr 2016
51