Here is how the billiards and snooker champion, Pankaj Advani, keeps himself physically fit to complement his performance.
Pankaj Advani, who has won 25 world championships, is the most well-known cue sports player in the nation. In fact, he is the only player in history to have won world championships in every billiards and snooker format. The 37-year-old sportsman has created a brilliant career spanning decades, beginning with becoming India’s youngest national champion in 2003 at the age of 17 and most recently with capturing his 25th title at the World Snooker Championship. His devotion to fitness has been a key factor in ensuring that he maintains his level of excellence over the years.
How crucial is physical health for cueists, and how does it assist you to provide your best work?
PANKAJ ADVANI: People only consider exercise, strength training, endurance, etc. when we discuss fitness. However, staying healthy is crucial for both our physical and mental health. These two, in my opinion, work best together to bring out the best in me. When fitness levels rise, everything like body language, vigour, attention, and concentration—aspects that are so crucial to my sport—gets better.
Could you briefly describe the primary focuses of your exercise regimen?
PA: For my sport, I don’t need to do a lot of strength training, but I still make sure to perform activations for my back, shoulders, core, and stability. For a cueist to succeed, mental and physical flexibility and stability are essential.
What kind of exercise do you do every day?
PA: Every other day, I visit the gym. I begin with some hip and spinal mobility movements before moving on to core and glute activations to improve balance and strength. The length of each session is one hour. Additionally, I think that daily walking for 30 to 45 minutes is really beneficial.
What precautions do you take to prevent injury when practising or playing your sport?
PA: Understanding your body and knowing when to push it and when not to is crucial, according to PA. I have fantastic sports and fitness coach who works with me to address that.
What type of diet do you eat, and how important is it to your physical fitness?
PA: I make an effort to eat unprocessed meals by using only natural components. For a boost in energy, I enjoy eating salads before meals and fruits in the morning. My meals have a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. I try to limit the salt and sugar in my meals. I eat only enough to keep me going every couple of hours rather than ingesting large meals. In between games, I like to snack on various nuts.
