Did you know that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has enrolled in St Xavier's college, Ranchi, for a Bachelor's degree in commerce? He plans to enroll for an MBA thereafter. Fellow cricketer Anil Kumble is a mechanical engineer and had passed with distinction in the top of his class, while Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra is an MBA from the University of Colorado. On the other hand, Anil Ambani is a marathon enthusiast. Vijay Mallya, as a racehorse owner, has won numerous trophies in horse racing including several Derbies and as a young sportsman was a race car driver,while Sulajja Firodia Motwani, joint MD Kinetic Engineering, has been a national level badminton player. Is there a message here for all to see?

Life is multidimensional and hence success should be defined taking all the aspects into account, be it career, finance, health or social life. And sport is one of the major factors that catalyse the development of qualities that help people face challenges in life. It is, therefore, crucial to introduce sport, and hence the concept of overall fitness, from childhood itself, at homes and in schools.

Having been associated with sports people for a greater part of my life, I have had the opportunity to observe them closely and have concluded that they are different, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Evidently fitter and healthier owing to the nature of their profession, they are even mentally more resilient. For instance, the fundamentals of any game teach that both success and loss are not permanent. Hence, a sportsperson is compelled to shrug off the disappointment of a game gone bad and faces any new challenge with renewed vigour. In comparison, an office-goer who is not into sports is generally hit harder by disappointments and is pushed into depression. People who pursue sports along with their careers are generally better off when it comes to strategic thinking. Team spirit, leveraging individual strengths for collective benefit and refined social skills are some of the bonuses sports bestows.

It is unfortunate that in India sports has always been relegated below academics. At school or at home, children are usually pushed to devote time to academics and sacrifice play time. Yes, perhaps the child will score top marks at school the following day, but it would cost him dear in the race of life. There is nothing wrong if children play video games. In fact, videogames often help develop mind-body coordination. But what is the point of playing football or cricket on video when one can play these games outside in the field? The child totally misses out on the team experience and the opportunity to play in a real competitive environment where he/she needs to coordinate with a dozen or so other children, understand their mindset and formulise a game plan together. It is up to parents to encourage their children to spend time outdoors, while schools must make participation in sports as important as excellence in academics.

Sport is for everyone, whether or not it is pursued professionally. Swim, cycle, play badminton, squash, cricket, football - do anything that you enjoy! Along with better blood circulation, a stronger heart and greater lung capacity, physical exertion also helps deal with mental stress. Though physical exercise may cause fatigue, the release of endorphins or "happy hormones" brings a sense of rejuvenation. When children play, their physique improves, and it shows in their confidence as well as the way they present themselves. Eventually it helps them grow up to be strong and healthy adults. Such children also have better attention span, good communication skills and greater learning capacity, in addition to a higher IQ of around 80 to 95.

While it is important for children to pursue physical fitness, training in a gym must not begin unless they grow out of their teens. While the body is growing, any strenuous exercise such as weight training might cause lingering damage to joints. Diet is an important component of long-term fitness and children must have wholesome food to fuel their growth. Home food is way better than fast food and health food drinks and fruit juices are much better options than cold drinks.

It is interesting to note the difference between under-16 players from different countries. While in India players are selected on the basis of skill, in Australia and elsewhere they are selected on the basis of athleticism. Though it is true that skill is necessary to win, it cannot be employed in the absence of athleticism. This is one of the main factors that influence the dynamics of our nation's performance in sports. We have the skill, but usually lack the physical machinery to convert that skill into action - all the more reason why sport should be inculcated in our lives from a tender age.

I am reminded of the words of Eliud Kipchoge, Kenyan runner-up in the 5,000 m in the 2008 Olympics.

He said, "In 2004, I won a bronze. This is a silver. Maybe in 2012, it will be a gold. Slowly, slowly." This is what sport is teaches - patience, grace, determination. Go out and play. There is a lot to learn out there.

The author is a physiotherapist of the Indian rugby team

By Dr Aijaz Ashai