India at Paralympics: The Zeal to Win

admin November 22, 2024 0 Comments

In our series, India at Paralympics, we addressed certain aspects that help our Paralympians and all other athletes realize their potential and attain success. Today, as we sum up this series of learnings from the inspiring stories of our Paralympians we look at a very special factor that is evident in every Paralympian and in every athlete who loves their sport and their country. Yes, we are speaking about the determination, the drive to win…the desire to see the work done till the end. 

This year at the Paris Paralympics, Preethi Pal became India’s first and the only athlete to win two medals in the track and field category. Hailing from a small village in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, Preethi was born with weak legs and an irregular leg posture, making her prone to various diseases. She was called a “cursed child” by the villagers, but Preethi’s determination proved to be far more stronger than insults and challenges thrown at her. At 17, she was inspired by watching the then Paralympians make their country proud and realized that she too, could pursue her dreams. Going into the Paris Paralympics, once the ‘cursed’ Preethi was confident enough that she would achieve her dream. Before the Paris Games, her coach and mentor Fatima Khatoon took her to Gajendra Singh, an army man and coach-husband of para athlete Simran Sharma for intensive training, Preethi says about the encounter, “The coach took me in on one condition, that I will never say no to training. He changed my technique, gave me proper nutrition, and worked on my endurance and strength. The medals in Kobe gave us a lot of confidence.”

An amazing quality seen in the Paralympians, is that they do not rely on second chances. Life itself is the second chance that they have received. Some have recovered from fatal injuries before turning to the sport and for some who were born with unfortunate disabilities in their bodies, being able to play the sport is the second chance that they have gotten from Life. They believe in proving themselves at every chance they get, they never say Better Luck Next Time, as there might not be a next time. They go in for every challenge with a do or die attitude. This attitude can only come when three factors are combined…the passion for the sport, the love for your country and an unshakeable belief in self. 

Another aspect of this unwavering determination is that the fear of failure appears to be on the lower side when it comes to the Paralympians. Most of the Paralympians come from a place where they have endured many insults and stigma from the society, rejection and discrimination is something that they have known for a long time. As a consequence, they do not carry the baggage of ‘what will people say’ anymore. People have said what they will, and now it is their chance to prove them wrong. The only vision they have is of their Ultimate Goal. Another reason here, is the disheartening fact that the Para athletes are more prone to injuries and physical discomfort than their able bodied counterparts. There is a lot of uncertainty for when something might come up which might stop them playing. Hence, they fearlessly execute their game at every chance they get to do so. 

High Jumper Praveen Kumar was grappling with an injury just 3 months before Paralympics. This is the same athlete who performed a record setting jump of 2.08m  in the T64 category, winning the Gold. There were many instances of para athletes getting injured before or during the Paralympics, but one factor common for all of them, was that they never gave up. 

Now as India sets its sight on the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Zeal to Win is one factor that every athlete needs to imbibe in themselves. Remember why you started, know your purpose and do what it takes to fulfill that purpose. Second chances are a good opportunity to prove oneself, but one must rely on those for achieving their dreams. Believe every chance you get to be the last one and fight for it!

Rasika Kalgutkar, Sports Psychologist, Mindsports

India At Paralympics: Believing in Yourself

admin November 6, 2024 0 Comments

In the last installment of our Paralympics series, we delved deeper into the role that Motivation plays in helping Paralympians excel at their sports. The motivation to attain mastery in a sport and to achieve success remains a crucial factor in their realizing their sporting career. But have you ever wondered where this unwavering motivation, to keep going in spite of the hardships thrown at them by life, comes from? 

Trevor Jenifer, an American Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball Athlete says,  “For the entirety of my life, I’ve been stared at because I’ve been different. You know, kids have stared at me, parents have stared at me, and it’s just because I didn’t have any legs. And now we’re changing that perspective—you could stare at me, but now you’re staring at me because I’m a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, I’m a father, and I’m a full-time employee with the federal government. I want people to know that there’s life outside of my disability. I don’t let my disability identify who I am. All these other things do. So it’s not just about the sport—it’s outside of sport. We’re demolishing the stigmas that surround disability.”

When we read this statement, the question that pops up first in your mind is, how does one develop such a strong sense of identity even when one is deemed to be different from the rest of the world? This strong sense of identity comes from an equally strong sense of self worth and belief in one’s abilities. In psychological terms, we call it Self-Esteem. In simple words, Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself, and the value you place on yourself. It’s based on your beliefs and opinions about yourself. Self-Esteem is a crucial factor when it comes to sport as it has an impact on the athletes confidence, their performance, their body image, their social relationship and on many such factors. 

Kapil Parmar, a visually challenged but tremendously cheerful Indian Paralympic medalist, experienced repeated abuses from his fellow villagers when he first started para-judo eight years ago, but it only fueled his drive to do something meaningful with his life. On September 4, Parmar, 24, became India’s first Paralympic medalist in judo, winning bronze in the men’s 60kg (J1) category at the Paris Games. “When I decided to start para judo in 2017, some people of my village taunted me about how I would play the sport as I can’t see but you always move ahead because of these taunts only,” Parmar told PTI in an interview.

Self-esteem starts developing from childhood and is affected by one’s upbringing, their life experiences, their achievements as well as their setbacks. One must always work hard to build a positive self image for themselves. Now this becomes even more challenging when one is born with a disability that hampers their daily functioning or when one loses one or more of their abilities to unfortunate incidents. Yet our Paralympians have proved to us that it might be tough but not impossible. When one strongly believes in their abilities and in the effort that they are putting in, in mastering a particular task, no disability can stop them from realizing their full potential. 

Let’s have a look at what learnings we can take away from our Paralympians and how we as athletes can enhance our self-esteem – 

• Prepare, Don’t Compare – You are your biggest competitor, and you must always strive to be better than yourself. By comparing ourselves with others we tend to reduce our self esteem by putting a negative filter on it.
• Recognise your Strengths – We all know what we are bad at, but it is rather more important that we know what we excel at. Our strengths are the steps that help us up the ladder of success. 
• Call it ‘Areas of Improvement’ rather than ‘Weaknesses’ – Our own mindset plays a role in determining whether we get better or stay stagnant. When you believe that you can always improve upon a particular aspect, growth is bound to happen.
• Set Realistic Goals – Dream Big, but when you prepare a roadmap to achieve those goals, set targets which are realistic and achievable in your current time frame. 
• Use Positive Self- Talk – Make a list of positive self-statements and read them to yourself every morning and night, or everytime you feel low on motivation.
• Solve the Problem – When a problem situation arises think, “How can I make it better?” Or “How can I contribute towards solving this problem?” rather than feeling sad about why it happened to you.

Self-esteem is an integral part of one’s identity, and athletes must take special care that they do not let their self-esteem go down, even in the face of setbacks. It is in those difficult moments that we need it the most. All individuals are different and unique in some way or the other, however, it is up to us how we make sense of our identity. Just like our Paralympians, we need to hold our heads high as we face the challenges that come. 

To learn from our Paralympians and get more glimpses of their journey, follow our blog series India at Paralympics! 

Rasika Kalgutkar, Sports Psychologist, Mindsports

India at Paralympics 2024 : Motivation

admin October 22, 2024 0 Comments

In the first part of our Paralympics series, we reflected on India at the Paris Paralympic Games and its revelation of resilience – the ability to bounce back from setbacks. As much as resilience helps athletes overcome their challenges, motivation also acts as a fuel to keep pushing forward consistently. It is the drive that keeps them going to reach their highest potential. As Canada’s Para-canoeist Brianna Hennessy
has profoundly put:
“The Paralympics means so much more because everyone here has a million reasons to give up, and we’ve all chosen to just go on… It’s a bigger picture than the medals, it’s a bigger picture than our country’s flag. It’s all of us coming together on that world stage and representing something greater than ourselves.” – Brianna Hennessy (Para-canoeist)
This quote strongly expresses the motivation of para-athletes and how it’s not just about personal or national glory but also about representing a shared human spirit that inspires millions. It is the drive that keeps them going beyond the limits set by others, and even at times, the limits set by themselves. In this blog, let’s explore the drive that keeps them going – what we commonly call ‘Motivation’.
Motivation is the drive to participate and persist in a particular activity. It is a factor that can be improved and developed through various techniques and strategies. However, it becomes important to identify the root source of motivation for any athlete. Playing a sport to win medals, to win scholarships, to stay fit, to enjoy the sporting experience are some of the sources of motivation for athletes. Like any other athlete,
our Indian para-athletes also are motivated by a variety of factors. Mariyappan Thangavelu, who recently won a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024 has often spoken about how he could support his family financially through para-sports. Raised in poverty, his childhood experiences motivated him to uplift his family despite the limited sources. His mother, a vegetable seller, has been his source of motivation and inspiration.
Manasi Joshi, who lost her leg in 2011 due to a road accident. During her rehabilitation period, she found her passion for badminton. She has often spoken about breaking barriers with regards to how society views people with disabilities. She believes that accepting challenges and having a strong self-belief are some of the motivating factors that drive her to work for inclusivity and empowerment through sport.
Bringing a change in societal views by redefining what it means to live with a disability, Manasi has a deeper motivational source in her sporting career.

Navdeep Singh who narrowly missed out the podium finish at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, made a strong comeback by winning a Gold at the Paris Games.

Although he was facing challenges, his experience in Tokyo became a turning point as well as a fueling factor to prove his true potential. He channeled his setbacks into motivation to achieve greater heights.
Thus, our para-athletes have a purpose that fuels their motivation to achieve their goals. Drawing inspiration from them, let’s explore how athletes can work on their motivation levels by using certain techniques and strategies :

● Identify your purpose – Having a purpose that is beyond winning medals or recognition helps sustain motivation. This could be a deeper purpose such as contributing to your country’s success, overcoming societal barriers etc. During tough times, such deep purposes help athletes remain focused and
motivated.
● Set clear, achievable goals – Break down your long-term goals into smaller, manageable goals which helps create a sense of accomplishment thereby improving your motivation levels.
● Review your progress – Maintain a log of your daily tasks and track your progress throughout. This can be a great motivator along with giving you a sense of fulfillment.
● Use Mental Imagery – Visualizing helps block your distractions and stay focused on your performance thereby motivating you to give your best.
● Feedback – Ask for feedback from your coaches and support staff members. This will help you get a better understanding of how much you have progressed and where your efforts need to be exerted.
Thus, by identifying your purpose, setting achievable goals, reviewing progress, utilizing mental imagery, and seeking feedback, athletes can cultivate motivation and reach their potential. The remarkable stories of our para-athletes remind us that motivation is an essential factor for success.

As we have explored resilience and motivation pertaining to Paris Paralympics 2024, we will tune into more such mental factors. Keep following our blog series “India at Paralympics 2024” for more updates.

Kiran Salunkhe, Sports Psychologist, Mindsports

India at Paralympics 2024: Biggest Lesson in Resilience

admin September 22, 2024 0 Comments

A young boy of 23, who was having fun with his friends at his aunt’s house, was struck by a tragedy that left him paralyzed from waist down. Dharambir Nain, the gold medal winner of men’s club throw F51 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024,  hit the rocks while diving in a river near his aunt’s house, this incident left him paralyzed from waist down and bed ridden for almost a year. His father had passed away in 2011, after that this incident in 2012 left him completely shattered. From being bed ridden to winning a Gold at the Paralympics, what would have been the journey of this man? A journey that no able bodied person can imagine. 

The Paris Paralympics 2024 was full of not just one such story but 84 stories of grit and resilience. India competed at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris from 28 August to 8 September 2024. We made our official debut at the 1968 Summer Paralympics and have appeared in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since 1984. This was India’s 13th appearance at the Summer Paralympics, and we sent a strong contingent of 84 athletes. The Paris edition turned out to be the most successful campaign yet as we won 29 medals, surpassing the tally of 19 at the Tokyo Olympics. Avani Lekhara was the first to open up the tally with a gold medal along with Mona Agarwal winning the bronze in the women’s 10m rifle event. Following them Kumar Nitesh, Pramod Bhagat, Sumit Antil and others also won Golds for India in their respective events. Many other athletes like Suhas Yathiraj, Nishad Kumar, Navdeep, Praveen Kumar, Marriappan Thangavelu, Preethi Pal and many more, won silver and bronze medals in their respective sports. 

These Paralympians have shown some of the greatest qualities in terms of Mental Toughness. In this blog, we focus on one of them which is Resilience. 

Each of the para athletes have gone through life shattering events in their lives. Some were born with unfortunate defects in their bodies and some have faced terrible accidents where they have lost their limbs or their mobility. However, they didn’t let their disabilities define themselves. One such example is Men’s Para Javelin Thrower Ajeet Singh. In 2017, Ajeet’s life changed dramatically when he got involved in a fatal train accident. While attempting to prevent his best friend from falling off the train, Ajeet became entangled in the wheels, resulting in the amputation of his left arm below the elbow. Despite this life-changing experience, Ajeet refused to let it shape his destiny. Four months following his recovery, he returned to training, focusing his emphasis on athletics. These athletes have strived hard to create a place for themselves in a world that does not very well understand them, which is only possible if one is highly resilient. Resilience is the psychological quality that allows some people to be knocked down by the adversities of life and come back at least as strong as before. Rather than letting difficulties, traumatic events, or failure overcome them and drain their resolve, highly resilient people find a way to change course, emotionally heal, and continue moving toward their goals. This sounds easier in words than done. 

Let us understand what are the characteristics of highly resilient people – 

• Awareness: They are aware of their emotional reactions, the situations they are in, and the behavior of others around them. 
• Problem solving: They look for solutions to problems instead of ruminating why something happened, and can identify the correct issue and create a solution. 
• Flexibility: They are adaptable and can respond to adversity or life crises. They may even use difficult events as an opportunity to try new things. 
• Positivity: They have a disposition to view the present or future positively and confidently.

As we reflect back on the Paralympic Games, these characteristics have been much evidently seen amongst our athletes. All eyes were set on Sheetal Devi, India’s para-archer who competes with her feet, hoping to win her first ever Paralympic medal at the Games this year. Whilst handling the global pressure, she finished at 9th position at the individual event. However, she came back stronger at the mixed team event by winning a Bronze medal, creating history for India with its first ever Paralympic medal in archery. Resilience can also be seen in the form of maintaining a legacy. It’s about overcoming challenges and maintaining a drive to win on a consistent basis. Avani Lekhara, India’s first female Gold medalist has proved this right by successfully defending her title at the Paris Games. 

Thus, whether it’s the pressure arising from injury or from defending a title, resilience becomes an important factor to help athletes focus on the right things. The good news is resilience can be built, it can be enhanced by using certain mental training strategies. It helps athletes bounce back stronger, but also to maintain their peak performance consistently. However, Resilience is not only limited to sports, it is a quality that helps athletes face the challenges in life as well. 

In this month’s blog, we explore the quality of resilience demonstrated by our athletes at the Paralympic Games 2024. However, resilience is not the only deal, there is a lot to learn from these athletes and their lives. In upcoming blogs, we will explore more qualities and life lessons that can be learnt from our Paralympians! Keep following “India at Paralympics” for more!

Rasika Kalgutkar, Sports Psychologist, Mindsports

Kiran Salunkhe, Sports Psychologist, Mindsports

Paris 2024 Countdown: The Mental Game

admin June 24, 2024 0 Comments

Source: https://www.aboveandbeyond.group/

Mental preparation is often the defining factor that separates good athletes from great ones. It involves cultivating a mindset that can handle the intense pressure and high stakes of Olympic competition. The ability to remain calm, maintain focus, and bounce back from setbacks is critical in an environment where the margin for error is extremely narrow. For Olympians, mental preparation isn’t just an add-on to physical training; it’s an integral part of their routine. 

The Paris 2024 Olympics is just a month away, and the world is eagerly anticipating the return of this grand sporting event. As athletes from around the globe prepare to showcase their physical expertise, it is crucial to remember that success at the Olympics is not just about physical training but also about mental fortitude. In this blog, we will delve into the mental preparation techniques used by Olympians, uncovering the psychological strategies that help them stay focused, resilient, and ready to perform at their best on the world’s biggest stage. Techniques such as visualization, mindfulness, positive self-talk, and goal setting are essential tools that help athletes build the mental resilience needed to achieve peak performance. 

Visualization is a cornerstone of mental preparation for many Olympians. This technique involves creating detailed mental images of successful performance. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, is a prominent advocate of visualization. He would mentally rehearse every detail of his races, from his dive off the block to his final stroke. By the time he stood on the starting block, he had already “swum” the race countless times in his mind. Visualization helps in boosting confidence and managing distractions. 

Setting clear, achievable goals is another critical component of mental preparation. Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history, was known for his meticulous goal-setting. He broke down his training and performance objectives into smaller, manageable targets, which provided him with a clear path to his ultimate goals. This approach not only kept him motivated but also helped him track his progress and make necessary adjustments along the way.

Positive self-talk is a powerful tool for building self-confidence and maintaining a positive mindset. Serena Williams, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, before matches, often repeated affirmations to herself, focusing on her strengths, such as her powerful serve, mental toughness, and strategic play. By reinforcing her belief in her abilities, Serena boosted her confidence and maintained a positive mindset, enabling her to perform at her best even under intense pressure.

The pressure of representing your country at the Olympics can be overwhelming. To cope with this, athletes develop psychological resilience through various strategies. Sports psychologists play a crucial role in this process, providing techniques to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset. Shooter Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual gold medalist, has often spoken about the importance of mental resilience and how it contributed to his success. 

As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, the spotlight shines not only on physical prowess but also on mental resilience. Olympians exemplify the power of visualization, goal-setting, positive self-talk any many other techniques in their relentless pursuit of excellence. Their stories, from Michael Phelps to Serena Williams, highlight the profound impact of mental preparation on athletic achievement. Behind every gold medal is a journey of overcoming pressure and adversity, guided by sports psychologists and unwavering self-belief. As we anticipate the triumphs and challenges of the upcoming Games, let us encourage the unbeatable spirit of Olympians and the enduring legacy of their mental fortitude on the world stage.

Kiran Salunkhe

Intern, Mindsports

Behind the Scenes…An Athlete’s Perspective

admin May 22, 2024 0 Comments

The biggest narrative for every Indian that unfolded in 2023 was the ICC Men’s World Cup Final. A winning streak of ten matches, full of runs, wickets and broken records culminated into the final on 19th November 2023. However, fate, with its predilection for the unexpected, had more surprises in store. Australia, inspired by Travis Head’s knock of 137 shocked India to win their sixth Cricket World Cup title in front of around 125,000 stunned Indian fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

As we come to terms with this heartbreaking loss, India finds itself gearing for its next challenge, the T20 World Cup and the most awaited Paris Olympics. As the athletes prepare themselves for these events, the Indian media is also gearing up to cover these events…events or the athletes themselves?

Looking back at the atmosphere leading up to the final, it was nothing short of a festival. Anticipation hung in the air, and the nation collectively held its breath, eager for India to clinch the title. However, was it the same for the athletes? India is a country of 13 billion people…and 13 billion opinions. All over the media, different opinions were seen to be trending, predictions were being made, every move of the athletes was being scrutinised. Some had already crowned Team India as the winners, some were expressing their doubt over the athletes’ form. Even today, we see controversies being created just for the sake of entertainment and engagement, private lives of athletes being brought into question and being scrutinised by everyone, even by those who have never played a sport in their lives. 

Understanding these Forms of Negative Engagement

The media and journalism play a significant role in the entertainment sector, just as they do in the sports industry. The public is now allowed access not just to the professional lives of athletes and players, but also to their personal lives. With increased media attention the level of trolling and criticism of athlete’s every move has recently crossed its bounds. This behaviour is manifested in various forms such as – 

• Breaching the athlete’s privacy by posting about family, friends, and personal life.
• Creating groups/social media pages for and against certain athletes.
• Trolling and posting criticism on public forums.
• Posting threats.
• Showcasing and promoting negative behaviours.
• Undermining officials and their decisions.
• Editing images and videos in a way that is biassed or false.
• Starting trends and controversies against athletes without knowing the entire truth.
• Publicly booing or trolling athletes.

What impact does this excessive media coverage have on an athlete’s Mind?

Athletes in general undergo several stressors related to their sporting careers. From playing conditions, maintaining their performance rate, constant travel, staying away from family to struggling for opportunities and politics, they have seen it all. Adding on to these already existing factors, this increased media attention is giving rise to new stressors that have potential impacts on their mental health. 

Potential Effects of Media Attention 

• Developing unrealistic expectations from self based on the predictions.
• Feeling the pressure of analysis when the media makes predictions based on their performance and statistics.
• Elevated stress and cognitive load.
• A feeling of always being followed or being observed.
• Constant fear of privacy being breached.
• Frequently thinking about trolls and criticism.
• Performance Anxiety.
• Losing interest in the game.
• Fearing the safety of family members.

These factors severely affect an athlete’s performance, no matter how elite the player is or how much they try to stay away from it all. As much love as Indian fans shower on their athletes, their hate also knows no bounds. However, on the other side of it, our athletes undergo several challenges to reach where they are today. As sport psychologists, it is our duty to emphasise that behind the performances that we see there is a much deeper process, of physical work, of mental work, of commitment and of dedication. It is crucial that we understand the impact of our actions, and respect the efforts of our athletes who give their everything for the nation’s pride. 

As our athletes get themselves ready for these upcoming events, it is crucial that we too refrain from engaging in negative behaviours and support them to the fullest. 

Rasika Kalgutkar, Sports Psychologist

Mindsports

Image Sources – news24online, ESPNIndia