In conversations with PM Modi, fitness icons push for healthy India

Afshan Ashiq spoke with confidence as Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested the footballer from Jammu & Kashmir about her health mantra. “I am a big fan of MS Dhoni and the way he maintains his calm on the field. I try to bring the same calmness within me and I meditate every day before working out,” mentioned Ashiq, who made information three years again when she was photographed pelting stones at safety forces in Srinagar’s Kothi Bagh.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper and captain of the Jammu & Kashmir ladies’s soccer staff was among the many seven health influencers, together with India cricket captain Virat Kohli, two-time Paralympic gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia and model-turned-runner Milind Soman, who interacted with Modi throughout a web based health dialogue to mark the primary anniversary of the Fit India Movement on Thursday. “I did not get much support from my family but I decided to fight it out so that I can bring a change in the society,” mentioned Ashiq, who performs in a Mumbai membership — Premier India Football Academy. “You are an inspiration to girls in Jammu & Kashmir. Mostly, football fans say ‘Bend it like Beckham’, but now they will say ‘Ace it like Afshan,” Modi advised Ashiq throughout the on-line interplay.

During the interplay with Kohli, Modi joked concerning the India captain’s love for chhole bhature. Kohli burst into laughter as he shared his transition from a foodie to a health freak. “I used to eat a lot from outside as I was growing up. I had to change my diet and physical fitness regime. I thought fitness should be a priority,” mentioned Kohli.

Modi launched the ‘Fit India Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols’ within the presence of sports activities minister Kiren Rijiju. “I am glad that healthy eating is becoming a part of our way of living,” he mentioned. PM additionally spoke to nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, yoga skilled Swami Shivadhyanam Saraswati, and educationist Mukul Kanitkar.