What is a yo-yo test, which Prime Minister Modi and Virat Kohli discussed in an online interaction?

Recently, Prime Minister Modi interacted with fitness experts and influencers from across the country to mark the one-year anniversary of the ‘Fit India Movement.’

During the interaction, Virat Kohli explained how the Yo-Yo test helped the Indian cricketers achieve high-level fitness when Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him about the mandatory running aerobic fitness routine.

Modi asked, “I heard these days there is a Yo-Yo test for the team, what is this test,” asked Modi during the interaction. To which Kohli replied, “This Test was very important from fitness point of view. If we talk about global fitness level, our fitness level is still low compared to other teams and we want to take it up, which is a basic requirement”

YoYo test

The Yo-Yo test was conceptualised by former Danish player and Juventus assistant coach Jens Bangsbo for footballers.

The test is used to evaluate an individual’s aerobic endurance fitness. Yo-Yo test is a compulsory fitness test for the Indian player.

There are two versions of the test, level one for beginners and level two for advanced. The level two fitness test involves cones placed to mark out two lines, 20 meters apart. The player has to run between the lines and turn when the beep goes off.

The pace of the beeps quickens after each minute and if the player does not reach the line in time, he or she must catch up within two more beeps.

The test is stopped if the player fails to catch up before the beeps run out. The minimum score set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to pass the test is 16.1.