15 April,2016 09:22 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Sachin Tendulkar gave a sneak-peek into the fitness regime that helped him play cricket at the highest level for nearly two and a half decades
Sachin Tendulkar (left) with former Mumbai teammate and IDBI Federalu00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0099s CEO Vighnesh Shahane
Sachin Tendulkar gave a sneak-peek into the fitness regime that helped him play cricket at the highest level for nearly two and a half decades.
Sachin Tendulkar (left) with former Mumbai teammate and IDBI Federal's CEO Vighnesh Shahane. Pic/Nimesh Dave
He first shed the most common myth about fitness. "Fitness is from within, it is not about how you look," said Tendulkar after being launched as the face of IDBI Federal Life Insurance half marathons, which will be conducted in Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata. The Mumbai half-marathon will be held on August 21.
Tendulkar spoke about his training sessions at Shivaji Park, where he honed his skills under Ramakant Achrekar. "I was only 12-13 years old. My coach would start my practice session in the morning at around 7.
"I would practice till 9:30 in the nets and then have a break of 30 minutes. Then, I'd play a match at 10am till 4:30pm, have a break of half-an-hour and then from 5pm, I would continue till 7pm till it would get dark.
"I was asked to take a couple of laps with my cricketing gear on. There were occasions when I asked Sir if I could remove my pads and could keep the bat aside, so it would be easier. But Sir told me that 'if you feel that you can go out and score runs without your pads or bat, then run. But if you don't think so, then run with your cricketing gear'.
"Without realising it, I felt the foundation becoming stronger for me," said Tendulkar.
