Parents must let their kids play: Chetan Chauhan

Former Indian Test cricketer Chetan Chauhan Saturday said parents need to play a bigger role in their child's fitness and make them play some sport daily for at least two hours.

"My advice to parents is that they should let their children go out and play for two hours daily so that they remain fit," Chauhan, who is also the vice president of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) said Saturday at the inauguration of a cricket academy named after Indian cricketing great Chandu Borde at the Noida campus of the Global Indian International School (GIIS).

"You should make your kids indulge in some sporting activity between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Schools nowadays close by around 2.30 p.m. and hence these two hours of sports will keep the child fit," he said.

These two hours of sports, Chauhan said, would also help children lead a disciplined life. Some physical activity in the evening would mean that they would get tired, making them go to bed early.

"Also, restrict their eating pizzas, burgers and other junk food to just once a week," said Chauhan.

Concurring with Chauhan, Borde said home food is the best food for children.

"Always feed your children homemade food. The food made by my Amma (mother) was always the best food for me when I was a kid," Borde, 79, said while launching the academy.

The Chandu Borde Global Cricket Academy (CBGCA) at the Noida campus of GIIS is the third such campus in India, the other two being in the GIIS campuses of Indore and Surat.

Headquartered in Singapore, the GIIS network of schools is run by the Global Schools Foundation (GSF) and has campuses in seven Asian countries.

Borde is the vice-president of the GSF.

"I am truly delighted that the academy has been named after me and am deeply honoured," Borde, who represented India in 55 Tests and was chairman of the national cricket selection committee twice, said.

"I hope to see a player from GIIS playing for Delhi soon as sports today is a very good career option," he said, adding that cricketers at the Ranji level are earning well today.

Rajeev Katyal, country director of GIIS India, said the new academy was another endeavour of the school to give the best of opportunities to its students.

"The Chandu Borde Global Cricket Academy is one such endeavour to bring in this game to the school under the leadership of a cricket legend, who will not only ensure the techniques of the game but also the values of true sportsmanship," he said.