Step 1: Selecting a Strength Test from the Battery:
For the 9 to 18 age bracket (Classes 4 to 12), the SAI Khelo India Fitness Test battery uses the Abdominal Partial Curl-Up Test to assess core muscular endurance and strength.
Step 2: Detailing the Step-by-Step Procedure:
• Required Equipment: A clean, non-slip fitness mat and a metronome (or audio track set to a steady cadence of 20 curls per minute, alternating clicks at 30 beats per minute).
• Initial Setup: The student lies down on the mat in a supine position (flat on their back). The knees are bent at a $90^\circ$ angle, feet flat on the floor, and heels roughly 12 inches away from the hips. The arms are extended straight out by their sides, with palms facing down and fingertips touching a baseline strip of tape.
• Execution:
• When the metronome signals the start, the student contracts their abdominal muscles to curl their torso upward, sliding their fingers along the mat until they reach a second parallel tape line (positioned 4.5 inches ahead for older children).
• The head and shoulders must lift clear off the floor, keeping the heels firmly pinned down.
• On the next metronome beat, the student lowers their torso back down in a controlled manner until the shoulder blades touch the mat.
• Termination Criteria: The test stops when the student reaches a maximum of 75 curl-ups, can no longer keep pace with the metronome's rhythm, or loses proper form (such as lifting their heels off the floor).
Step 3: Explaining the Scoring System:
The final score is recorded as the total number of correctly completed curl-ups executed within the established cadence, up to a maximum limit of 75 reps.