Relax, acclimatize for best performance: Rahul Bose to Olympians

Jul 19, 2012 IANS

Mumbai, July 19 (IANS) Actor Rahul Bose, who is an international rugby player, has a word of advice for Indian Olympians headed for London. He wants them to relax and get used to the climate as it would help them give their best.

"It's too late to say that practice. For an international athlete, these last days are to focus and relax. I have been an international sports person so I would say just one thing - the environment is new, weather is weird, so players should go there and get used to all that, Olympic village, the food," the 44-year-old said here at the launch of the 10th edition of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.

"On D-day your real magic will come out if you are relaxed. We have seen, a lot of times our players don't even get near to the best timings of other athletes. That's because of acclimatization and getting used to psychologically," he added.

Meanwhile, actor-producer John Abraham, a known sports lover, wants the government to support all sports and has requested private organisations to come out too.

"I just want to wish them (Olympians) all the best. I hope in future the government gives them more money to do better. It is very important that the government funds these programmes," the 39-year-old said at the event.

"Government funding should not be restricted to any one sport and they should fund all sports. Like Standard Chartered is supporting Mumbai Marathon, other private enterprises should also support other sports," he added.

Wrestler Sushil Kumar, who won a bronze in the Men's 66kg Freestyle Wrestling event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has been chosen as India's flag bearer for the opening ceremony in London to be held July 27.