MindSport | Sport Psychology

What is MindSports?

It’s an initiative started by Mugdha Bavare, a Counseling Psychologist from the University of Mumbai. The main objective of Mindsports is to prepare athletes to face and enjoy the challenges of competitive sports by developing a strong and confident mental framework.

The Mind behind MindSports?

Mindsports is the brainchild of Mugdha Bavare and has grown organically from her two life interests- Swimming and Psychology. A Counseling Psychologist from the University of Mumbai, Mugdha is a founder of Mindsports, in Mumbai.

A swimmer par excellence, Mugdha has won several medals at the National and International level at various competitions across different age groups. She has won the prestigious Chhatrapati Award, the highest state-level award for excellence in sports, in the year 1994-95.

Since the beginning of her career, Mugdha has had a keen interest in Sport Psychology. Having ‘been there, done that’ as a swimmer all through her growing years, she understands firsthand the aspirations, ambitions, goals and desires of sportspeople. Not only this, but she also knows too well about the fears, the trepidation, the anxiety, and the insecurities that surround the most accomplished of athletes. Working toward that elusive ‘peak performance’ is a work in progress, and as a sportswoman herself, Mugdha knows very well how the mind as well as the body of a sportsperson works. Add to this her training in psychology, her expertise in the workings of the mind, and her vast experience over the last 19 years, makes her a Sport Psychologist like none other. Over the years, Mugdha has carved a niche for herself in the budding field of Sport Psychology in India.

Why MindSports?

What is the mindset of a winner?
How does an athlete bounce back after a devastating loss?
How do high performers keep calm knowing that the whole world is watching them with bated breath? What is the mechanism of will power and self-control?

These and many more such questions are pertinent to the study of Sports Psychology. Mindsports is founded on the principles of sports psychology that helps with developing techniques and strategies of mental training for optimal performance. It is built on the awareness that athletes can be well-matched in terms of their physical abilities and skill levels through intense physical training, but it is the mental training that comes into play in the most critical and crucial moments. As Michael Jordan said, “mental toughness is what separates the good from the great.”

Mindsports provides Mental Toughness Training services to all its athletes of different levels and age groups across all sports. A complete mental training program is designed for each athlete depending on the demands of each sport as well as keeping in mind the personality of the athlete. It has a complete well-designed program to deal with individual athletes, teams, parents, and coaches.

Mind Sports

Mindsports is founded by sports psychologist and an International swimmer Mugdha Bavare.
The objective of Mindsports is to prepare athletes to face and enjoy the challenges of competitive sports by developing a strong and confident mental framework.
Mindsports helps athletes in performance enhancement. It strongly believes that excellence in performance is the product of a well-trained mind and body. Globally, all athletes focus to a great extent in physical training, however, mental training is an equally important part of achieving great performance when it actually matters. Therefore, Sports Psychologist at Mindsports work towards balancing both of these to extract best out of the athlete and help reach their potential.
Mindsports provides Mental Toughness Training services to all its athletes of different levels and age groups across all sports. A complete mental training program is designed for each athlete depending on the demands of each sport as well as keeping in mind the personality of the athlete. It has a complete well designed program to deal with individual athletes, teams, parents and coaches.

Benefits of working with a Sport psychologist:

Building and sustaining ideal level of motivation
Helping to achieve optimum level of self-Confidence
Enhancing Focus and concentration while dealing with distractions
Inculcating positivity and reducing negative self-talk
Managing competitive stress and anxiety
Building commitment towards one’s sport and setting goals

Improving Team building and communication
Replacing fear of failure with desire to succeed
Managing and channelizing anger and negative emotions
Dealing with competitive pressure
Working on positive sport parenting

Our Team

Rasika Kalgutkar

Consulting Sport Psychologist, Mindsports

Rasika has completed her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Mumbai University. She has been a Table Tennis Player and was actively involved in various sports since childhood. She is passionate about Psychology, Sports, Gyming, Languages, Art and Culture.

She also has almost 5+ years of experience in teaching German as a foreign language.

She recognizes the role sports can play in one’s life on an individual and social level and the pride it brings to one’s country. For a country like India, which is filled with talent, hard work and dedication, her ultimate aim is to work towards making the sporting careers of Indian athletes successful, mentally sound and satisfying for them. She also aims at making common sports available for one and all, where no talent is lost due to lack of resources or mental strength.

Jinal S Mehta

Aspiring Sports and Exercise Psychologist

Jinal graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mumbai University and has a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling from Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work. She is set to graduate with MSc. in Sports and Exercise Psychology from Brunel University, London in September 2024.

She is also a THETA healing practitioner and a Drawing and Handwriting Analyst. She has experience with a wide variety of therapeutic techniques, such as Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), REBT, Metaphor Therapy and is a certified Play Therapist. Jinal is also a professional Content Writer and has worked in various fields writing about Lifestyle, Technology, Sports, Mental Health, etc for the past 5+ years.

Her ultimate goal is to work with Indian athletes and help them become their best version.

Honey Jain

Counseling Psychologist, Mindsports

Honey is a psychologist and a psychotherapist who has completed her Masters in Counseling Psychology from SNDT university and Diploma in Sports Psychology from SNDT university. She is trained in family therapy, play therapy and further exploring her journey towards expressive therapy. She has worked with a wide range of population. She believes in fostering a safe, non-judgmental, and collaborative therapeutic environment, where individuals can freely explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Kiran Salunkhe

Intern

Kiran holds an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Loughborough University, UK, complemented by her experience as a national-level rhythmic gymnast. Her passion lies at the intersection of sports and psychology, currently refining her skills as a trainee at MindSports, specializing in sports psychology applications. With firsthand experience as a national-level medalist in rhythmic gymnastics, she possesses a profound understanding of the psychological intricacies within sports. Beyond her professional pursuits, she indulges in various sports for recreation and finds solace in solo travel, music, and exploring diverse culinary experiences.