Make every day a Sport Day
Dear Sir,
The way the Qatar National Sport Day was observed was highly commendable. Almost all public establishments, including ministries and various government departments, organised various activities and programmes to mark the day. I visited some of the venues and was impressed by the enthusiastic participation of the people too. This means that the Sport Day’s message  about the importance of leading an active lifestyle has reached the general public.
The fact that many private companies have joined in marking the day was an additional cause for satisfaction. But the most important thing is that the activities should not be confined to just one day in a year. People should learn to follow an active lifestyle throughout the year. A moderate exercise regimen should form part of every resident’s life.
Regular exercise can help prevent excess weight gain. When one engages in physical activity, one burns calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories one burns.
We  need not set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If we can’t do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways - by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up one’s household chores.

T P Rasheed
PO Box 766
Doha

Challenges facing military personnel
Dear Sir,
The news about the unfortunate death of Indian soldier Hanamanthappa was extremely troubling. The Siachen braveheart has left the people of India to think about the life of defence personnel and how and in which conditions they live while performing their duty.
Like Hanamanthappa, there are many others who do their duty in challenging and hostile weather conditions, especially in Siachen.    
Though it is a global scenario, it’s time for people to realise the difficulties and challenges of  the life of military personnel who serve in any climatically challenging conditions.  
When it comes to military personnel posted in the Siachen glacier area, it is highly important that they must be provided with critical equipment to counter landslides.  
Notwithstanding, Hanamanthappa has conveyed an inspiring message to the youth of the country. Let his courage be a guiding principle for the younger generation everywhere.  
At the same time, in a global perspective the increasing conflicts in the recent past have taken the lives of countless number of military personnel; and we must always admire their obligations as guardians until the last moment.

Ramachandran Nair
(Address supplied)