Billiards champion Pankaj Advani's fitness mantra: Eat, sleep, exercise, repeat

Cue sports champion Pankaj Advani got his due with the Padma Bhushan this year, after making headlines for calling out the government for ignoring him earlier.

However, away from the awards debate, Advani spoke fitness and health with ETPanache, debunking the assumption that a sport like billiards (which is not very physically intensive) does not require fitness. “I ensure that I have time for two sessions of strength training and two sessions of functional training to increase stamina, flexibility and endurance levels,” he said.

The 32-year-old athlete added that it is his regimen of eating healthy, sleeping well and regular exercising that has helped his concentration levels, making him a better player.