THE SPORTS THAT MAKE YOU LIVE LONGER

Playing tennis and other racquet sports that involve social interaction and physical exertion have been found to add almost 10 years to a person’s lifespan.

The Copenhagen City Heart Study findings published in US journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings late last year found cycling resulted in adding about 3.7 years to a rider’s life, as opposed to being sedentary, and running contributed another 3.2 years of life on average.

Tennis, however, was found to add about 9.7 years to a player’s life, and badminton players enjoyed 6.2 extra years. Soccer players didn’t fare that badly either, with five years added to their lifespans. Other sports surveyed included swimming (3.4 years), calisthenics (3.1 years) and health club activities (1.5 years). Researchers concluded the leisuretime sports that resulted in the most improved lifespans were those involving the most social interaction, and that this finding warranted further investigation.