Sports and pastime – FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS

Their preoccupation with sports as a profession takes them all over the world. Yet they yearn for vacations during any break they can manage in between their hectic schedules. Some mix business with pleasure while others long for a perfect holiday- away from it all. Indian sportspersons, especially cricketers, make the headlines whenever they go on a vacation which sometimes infringes n their privacy.

Even India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was not spared when he and his wife Sakshi took some time off to enjoy a dip in the beaches of Goa recently after a one-day match against Australia was washed out.

As holidaying in India becomes a risky proposition for cricketers, former captain Sourav Ganguly prefers for a vacation in London where some of his relatives stay.

?London is my favourite destination. Whenever I get some time, I prefer to visit London and at least once a year,? he confided.

Recalling a memorable incident in London, Sourav revealed: ?A couple of years back we had gone out for a brief outing near the London Eye, the huge observation wheel on the Thames. After clicking some pictures, we noticed that our daughter Saana was nowhere around. It was a panicky situation and we searched the park frantically.

But she coolly walked up to a police post and reported her parents were lost. The police sent her back to the hotel. But till she was found, our outing went for a toss.?

Asked about a vacation that he hated, Sourav said: ?Can?t remember. Vacations are to be remembered.?

Dhoni, however, hates to go to places where India has lost. For this Ranchi boy, temples and biking are his perfect way of holidaying.

?Rivers, temples and motor biking are my way of holidaying. I like to go to places where there are temples besides a river. It has a calming effect on my senses. I look for a divine touch in the midst of our hectic cricketing calendar,? he said.

Asked how many times he travels in a year, Dhoni said: ?I travel abroad only for cricket. I travel for work.?

He cannot remember his most expensive vacations.

?Can?t remember the most expensive vacations, because the BCCI pays for the tours. But I don?t try to remember places where we have lost tournaments,? he said.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, however, loves taking his family to the hill station of Mussoorie. A couple of years back, the sleepy town of Mussoorie woke to a pleasant surprise to the rumour that Sachin Tendulkar was their guest. Tendulkar along with his wife Anjali and kids Arjun and Sara stayed at the house of his friend Sanjay Narang. Very few got the privilege to meet and see him as he eluded them by wearing dark shades and a white hooded jacket.

During his stay Sachin paid a visit to the local ground and gave few batting tips to the local woman cricketer Anju Tomar who was delighted with the legend?s presence. Sachin avoided any public meeting apart from the visit to American run school Woodstock, where he interacted with school children before leaving.

Later he obliged the local press, by appearing before them and declared : ?This one of the best hill stations of India and given time and I would like to come again to Mussoorie.?

Dhoni and his team mate Rudra Pratap Singh also seem to prefer the queen of the hills Mussoorie. During his bachelor days, Dhoni and Rudra Pratap took time out for a holiday in Mussoorie and Dhanaulti. During his stay, Dhoni visited the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA) and made a halt at ?Apple Orchard Resort?, owned by the royal family of Garhwal.

India?s latest Commonwealth stars, badminton player Saina Nehwal and shooter Gagan Narang also have their style of enjoying their vacations. While Gagan seems to enjoy Germany, where he spends most of the time participating in local shooting leagues, Saina prefers South East Asia.

?I like the city of Munich. It is a breathtaking city and according to me it is one of the best in the world. The road- side cafes, the by lanes and the parks are simply great and make the city spectacular. But I like travelling and whenever I go for tournaments, I make sure that explore the place after my event is over,? Gagan said.

For Saina, taking some time out of her packed schedule becomes almost impossible. But she makes sure to unwind herself at the host city after the end of the tournament.

?I am playing every week, so it becomes impossible for me to take a break. But when I go abroad for tournaments, I make sure that I get ample time in the city to unwind myself. This keeps me in perfect shape. I like the South Asian cities for their brilliant Oriental architecture. Be in Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, I like them all,? she said.