Fitness Mantra: Workout is all about sport for former tennis player Somdev Devvarman

Before speaking about the event, he begins with why fitness is important to him and based on personal experience, what works for him that others can implement too.

He says, “I can see the growing sense of fitness in India and it’s catching up with the rest of the world. While this is a positive change, I would like to see a shift in the way people exercise. Fitness shouldn’t be restricted to a gym — it should be something that’s safe, fun and anyone can try.”

The Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee explains, “One thing that really works for me in terms of exercise is to play a sport. Tennis is something I’ve done my whole life. These days, I get together with friends and play a variety of sport like football, basketball and surfing. I want to make fitness a social scene and have fun while at it.” Somdev says that he also loves competition — “Just wanting to win a sport makes things more fun provided it is healthy competition,” he adds.

Through his company, Wild Warrior, he’s trying to create a community of fitness enthusiasts across the city and country. “We realised that obstacle course racing facilitates this since the co-founders and my friends have experienced that adventure racing in a group is fun, regardless of whether you’re a pro athlete or not,” says Somdev. By jumping over hurdles or rope climbing over a wall with others, it could help build a connection and motivate others to stay in shape. “Don’t make fitness a routine but an experience you’ll remember,” he smiles.

Elaborating about Killermeter, he shares, “It is the toughest event to be held in Asia so far because 15 obstacles will be set up over a kilometre-long stretch on Kovalam beach. While participants can enjoy the scenic beauty on one side, five easy, medium and hard obstacles each — need not necessarily in that order — will make for a gruelling race. Some of the top athletes of the nation will be competing for the prize money but there’s another category for amateurs; no prior experience is required,” he says.