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

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