Is it possible to stay fit, while fasting for 30 consecutive days, and train as hard as any other day, during the holy month of Ramadan?
Yes, there are people from the sports fraternity in the city who are balancing their religious sentiments and fitness with equal élan. “The month of Ramadan started as usual with me fasting with my family members. But, now that I am travelling from China to India to attend a coaching camp, I will have to see my schedule and then decide if I can fast or not. I am keeping an open mind, if I can I will or else not,” says 18-year-old Shaik Jafreen, who had represented India and won various International Deaf Tennis Championships. She is now prepping up for her next big assignment — the Deaf Olympics — to be held in Turkey in July.
Syeda Falak
Syeda Falak (popularly known as the Golden Girl of Hyderabad) who has created a name for herself in Karate globally, says, “Usually I alternate the time of training and fasting during Ramadan. Either I workout before breaking the fast, that is early morning, or after breaking the fast with a few dates. It’s not advisable to work out after eating a lot as you will fall sick for sure. So, it is better to munch on some dates and finish a light workout and then eat properly.”
Shaik Jafreen
For Syeda, a proper diet and rest is of importance, as workout sessions during Ramadan can tire people out easily. Agreeing with her is Shaik Khalid, the General Secretary of Telangana Association of Mixed Martial Arts (TAMMA) and a coach for many aspiring fighters. He says, “During these 30 days, our training schedule changes. We don’t train during the day, and instead, do it from 10 pm to midnight. But again, following a proper diet is very important in our field and to recover from the effects of fasting, we eat a lot of dates and fruits and only then train.”
