CV Anand’s fitness regime and passion for sports keeps the policing blues away

Fitness is the key to a successful and healthy life, and no one embodies that principle more than Telangana DGP CV Anand. The 58-year-old IPS officer is perhaps one of the fittest DGP’s in India.

Even at 58, his childlike enthusiasm for playing cricket, tennis or golf is beyond anyone’s imagination. Notwithstanding his tight and demanding schedule, the top cop of Telangana has been able to devote a good amount of time towards his fitness regimen and passion for sports.

Anand, the other day, shared insights of how he keeps himself fit despite the high-pressure job. Speaking at Times Network India Health Summit on Resilient Leaders – Balancing Elite Physical Fitness and Agility in High-stress roles, the DGP said that every officer has to give at least an hour towards physical and mental health as policing demands unpredictable hours and constant pressure. As a result, fitness often takes a backseat after recruitment. “My message to every officer is to give at least an hour to physical and mental health,” he said.

3 non-negotiables for Anand

Determined to keep good health, Anand had maintained a consistent body weight of 75 to 76 kgs for over three decades. “It is not about looking smart in uniform. It’s about staying healthy enough that even your belt hole doesn’t change over the next three decades,” he stated.

Apart from his intense indulgence in sports like cricket, tennis, yoga and golf, the millet-based vegetarian avoids the four whites – sugar, salt, rice and maida. This has helped him to be fit as a fiddle. He clearly says that cricket shaped his discipline. “I played at junior and senior state levels and sport taught me leadership, teamwork and mental toughness that carried into policing. Long years in Naxal-affected Nizamabad, Warangal and Adilabad reinforced that composure under pressure matters as such as fitness,” he says.

Anand, who does a lot of weight training, says with discipline and time management, fitness is possible even for one who has the busiest and toughest career. “Physical strength, mental resilience and self-discipline are non-negotiables for high-stress professions,” he said while signing off.

Father gives son a run for his money

Passion for sport has always put Anand ahead of others. His son CV Milind, who is a First-Class cricketer himself, jokes that his father has often given him a run for his money as far as fitness is concerned. “He is fiercely competitive. He enjoys his sports and work. He feels that playing cricket or tennis or golf gives him peace of mind. He is extremely fit and I have to be better than him. He is a natural athlete. I admire his discipline, devotion and dedication. He is undoubtedly my role model and has been a big inspiration,” said the 31-year-old Milind, who has had some memorable performances for Hyderabad as a left-arm seam bowler and left-handed batter.

Anand is often seen in whites whenever Secunderabad Club plays in local leagues or tournaments. He has always been consistent with the bat, scoring centuries. It is a testimony to his fitness. On any given Sunday, he will either play cricket or wield his racket on tennis courts or even swing the club at golf venues. That has been a daily routine since he first started playing in school cricket.

Anand dabbled in sports from a young age: Vijay

Former Hyderabad junior cricketer P Vijay Kumar said Anand dabbled in all sports from a young age. “He would play table tennis, cricket, basketball. He was very competitive and was a busy student. He was studious also. He had a good command of the English language and we often sought his help. His time management was impeccable. He took cricket to his liking and even played for the Hyderabad Under-19 team. He was a top order reliable batter and good seam bowler. When we went to England as members of the Hyderabad Blues team of PR Man Singh, he got runs and captured many wickets with his swing bowling. He relished the English wickets. Even now on Sundays, we quite often find him in whites despite his busy schedule,” said Vijay Kumar, now an officer in the Goods Service Tax (GST) office.

Anand struck a fine balance, says Youraj

Former Hyderabad Ranji wicketkeeper Youraj Singh said the key to Anand’s career has been his discipline. “He struck a fine balance between sports and studies. For instance, in Nizam College, apart from cricket, he played basketball. A self-disciplined man, he also gave importance to his education and today he has risen to the top post because of his drive towards excellence,” said Youraj, who is now one of the top BCCI match referees of the country.

Anand grew in stature when he shifted to the Hyderabad Public School in Begumpet from Vidyaranya. Former Test left-arm spinner SL Venkatapathy Raju believes the HPS gave him more opportunities to excel in sports. “He would participate in cricket, table tennis, basketball, athletics. He had that intense hunger and that helped him to grow as a sportsperson,’’ said Raju.

Golf has helped Anand keep fit, says Raju

Anand is also often seen in golf clubs. “Golf is a highly skilled game. One needs a lot of patience, endurance and concentration. Anand always has that gift of good swing of the club. This game has helped him to be fit,” Raju said.

Tennis has also been one of Anand’s favourite sports. He never misses a practice session and has won several senior category tournaments that are held in the city. Harsha Midathala, the strength and conditioning coach, felt Anand is still sharp on tennis courts. “He has that child-like enthusiasm and is often seen playing events. He gives a lot of emphasis on fitness. He is very agile and is an inspiration to many, young or old.”