Nordic Walking

The term is less than a decade old, and is largely unknown in India. Even in England it’s become popular only in the past couple of years. Derived from a Finnish method of training cross-country skiers during the summer months, Nordic walking is becoming a popular alternative to jogging. This sport is similar to the training required for cross-country skiing, but without snow or skis, but using special walking stick-like poles. Brisk walking with the poles is not only good for the legs but for your whole body. The poles support part of your body weight and this takes pressure off the joints.

In this sport, you should walk along briskly with slightly longer strides than in normal walking supported by the poles. The body should be taut and the posture slightly forward-leaning. Keep your head straight, with your eyes on the horizon. The arms swing forward alternatively; the poles hit the ground slightly behind the forward heel and pull through the full length of the stride. Give yourself a good forward impetus with the poles and then open your hand fully. The loops hold the pole in position for a moment and then open you renew your grasp.
If you’re getting the poles make sure they’re the right length. This is crucial. As general rule the length of the poles should be 0.7 times your won height. For beginners, normal running or walking shoes are fine to start off with.

Astralian Tennis Sensation 2008

Novak Djokovic is the first Serb to win a grand slam title. He is the new sensation for this year’s tennis tournament and his match was pulling a record 6, 05,735 visitors to ground. Tsonga was unseeded, ranked No. 38 in the world at the start of the match but 18 by the finish. He beat the Spanish power-player Rafael Nadal in four sets – 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.

Soccer

Games involving kicking a ball have a long history and were recorded in China as 300BC; in medieval Europe, street football was banned as a menace to the public; only in 1863 were the rules established, specially banning carrying the ball for all players except the goalkeeper, and separating rugby from soccer. Soccer, officially termed association football, is a team sport in which players attempt to score goals by passing and dribbling the ball down the field past opposing defenders, and kicking or heading the ball into the goal net, outwitting the defending goalkeeper. Each team consists of ten out field players (defenders, midfielders and strikers) and a goalkeeper. Players from the opposing team may challenge the player in possession of the ball, but an illegal or foul tackle results in a penalty area or a free kick if outside the penalty area. The round ball used in soccer is more easily controlled than the oval balls used in soccer is more easily controlled than the oval balls used in American, Canadian and Australian rules football and in rugby. The result is a more “open” or flowing game which is played and watched by millions of people worldwide.

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