Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: March | Volume: 9 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 1-6
Anthropometric Variables and Physical Fitness Characteristics in Female Cricket Players of Maharashtra and Punjab: A Comparative Study
Aterah Tahoor1, Shyamal Koley2
1MYAS GNDU, Department of Sports Science and Medicine, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar - 143005, Punjab, India
2Department of Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar - 143005, Punjab, India
Corresponding Author: Shyamal Koley
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Cricket is a popular team game in most Commonwealth countries. Anthropometric dimensions and morphological characteristics play an important role in determining the success of an athlete. Information regarding the correlations of handgrip strength with body composition components in Indian elite female cricketers is scanty. Thus, the present study was planned.
Method: A total of 79 state female cricketers (39 Maharashtra players and 40 Punjab players) of age group 18-25 years were selected purposively from various cricket academies of Maharashtra and Punjab. Seven anthropometric variables, such as, height, weight, BMI, hand length, hand breadth, upper arm circumference and percent body fat, and three physical fitness tests i.e. dominant handgrip strength, non-dominant handgrip strength and Illinois agility test were measured on each subject using standard technique.
Results: Significant differences (p<0.004-0.001) were noted in non-dominant handgrip strength, upper arm circumference, percent body fat between the cricketers of Maharashtra and Punjab states. The dominant handgrip strength had significant positive correlations (p<0.021-0.003) with non-dominant handgrip, height, BMI, hand length and percent lean body mass in pooled cricketers. The non-dominant handgrip strength had significant positive correlations (p<0.004-0.001) with height, weight, BMI, hand length and percent lean body mass and significant negative correlation (p<0.002) with Illinois agility test in pooled cricketers. The Illinois agility test had significant negative correlation (p<0.001) with percent lean body mass in pooled cricketers.
Conclusion: It may be concluded that non-dominant handgrip strength showed a positive correlation with selected anthropometric variables. Similarly, Illinois agility test showed negative correlations with selected anthropometric variables.
Key words: Female cricketers. Anthropometric variables. Physical fitness characteristics.