Indian amateur golfer Arjun Bhati reveals how Virat Kohli's advice on health and fitness shaped his outlook, while golf legend Tiger Woods inspired him to raise his standards and pursue fitness as an essential part of sporting success.Arjun Bhati, Nikita Kumari and Raj Rani spoke at India Today's HealthWealth Summit. Noida,Oct 29, 2026 21:31 ISTWhen you meet a sporting idol, you expect to walk away with a piece of advice that could change the way you approach your sport, perhaps a technical insight or a nugget of wisdom that only an elite athlete would understand.
For Arjun Bhati, the Indian amateur golfer from Noida, however, it was a simple message from Virat Kohli that stayed with him long after their meeting.The 22-year-old, who shared the panel with Nikita Kumari and Raj Rani, members of India's gold medal-winning women's kabaddi team, at India Today's HealthWealth summit, recalled one of his early interactions with the cricketing legend."Whenever I met him, he would give me this advice, more than anything else in sport, make sure you remain healthy and keep inspiring the people around you to stay healthy at all times," Arjun shared. The young golfer believes that Kohli is arguably the fitness icon of India simply because of how he transformed himself physically and mentally to be at the very top of the sport and even beyond. "Somewhere, the way he speaks and the things he does, both on and off the field, make him, I think everyone would agree, India's fitness icon.
He is quintessential at this point in our country. The way he transformed himself was very inspiring for cricketers and athletes across sports," he added.TIGER WOODS, ANOTHER FITNESS INSPIRATIONLong before Virat Kohli became a source of inspiration, Arjun Bhati found himself looking up to another sporting icon, Tiger Woods.
For the young golfer, Woods was someone who showed him how fitness could play a crucial role in taking an athlete to the top. Bhati first watched Woods play at the Delhi Golf Club in 2014, an experience that left a lasting impression on him and gave him something to aspire to."I would say that, in the beginning of my career, Tiger Woods played a huge role.
He is a famous golfer who changed the game of golf. He revolutionised the sport in every way possible, be it in terms of fitness or popularity," Bhati said.The American's influence on the sport went beyond his performances, with his emphasis on fitness helping change perceptions of what it took to succeed in golf.
Woods even featured on the cover of Men's Health magazine, underlining his reach beyond the sport."I saw him playing golf for the first time here at the Delhi Golf Club in 2014. I was very inspired and wanted to get myself to that level so that I could focus on my fitness," Bhati recalled.For Bhati, watching Woods in action was more than just an opportunity to see a golfing great up close.
It gave him a personal benchmark to strive towards, reinforcing his belief that fitness was an essential part of becoming a better golfer.- Ends