Sunil Chhetri

OT Which is your favourite hotel in the world and why

Sunil Chhetri Le Meridien, New Delhi (from Rs 12,000 starwodhotels.com). I think this hotel has a perfect balance of beauty and practicality. I particularly like its d&eacutecor.

OT When did you first visit

Sunil Chhetri In 2001, with my father for lunch. I was only fifteen then. I had played for the national Under-17 team for the first time, so my father took me to the Monsoon restaurant and I still remember ordering my favourite butter chicken there.

OT And have you returned recently

Sunil Chhetri On April 30, when there was a charity match for the Virat Kohli Foundation between movie stars and cricketers, all of us stayed there. I was the coach for the cricketers. I stayed in the hotel only for a day as my home is in Dwarka (in Delhi).

OT Any other special memories

Sunil Chhetri When I was staying there with our national team in 2007, we won a major tournament. It was our first Nehru Cup, which India was hosting after many years. So there are lots of good memories in that place.

OT Do you still enjoy the butter chicken

Sunil Chhetri As a professional footballer, I now need to follow a very strict diet every meal should be well balanced, and they take great care with my requirement of healthy food. There has not been even a single occasion where my expectations were not met, be it a request for boiled food, special soups or dishes cooked with a minimal amount of oil. On the odd day off I can cheat, and gorge myself on their delicious pasta and biryani.