2 weeks Ago
New Delhi: Paris Olympics saw many medal success stories being written by Indian athletes but there were quite a few heartbreaks too. Six of the athletes missed out on a medal with each securing fourth spot in their respective events. On Friday, Abhinav Bindra , India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, reflected on the challenges of such near misses.
Bindra, who experienced a similar setback when he finished fourth in his fifth and final Games appearance at Rio 2016, emphasised on the importance of managing pressure, expectations and the accompanying disappointment. “The experience of finishing just shy of the podium, especially on a global stage like the Olympics, can be profoundly challenging for any athlete. The impact is not merely physical but deeply mental and emotional.
This is where the role of a mental health trainer or sports psychologist becomes indispensable. It's not just about recovering from the heartbreak, it’s about equipping athletes with the mental tools needed to transform that disappointment into motivation for future challenges,” Bindra said during an interaction organised by Mpower to mark the launch of Athlete Mind Performance (AMP), a sports psychology division aimed at enhancing athlete performance. Mpower is the mental healthcare initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET).
He added, “Mental health is as critical as physical health in sports, and without addressing it, we risk undermining an athlete’s ability to perform at their best.” Asked, therefore, how the trainers of Vinesh Phogat could have managed the situation after she was disqualified for being overweight ahead of her gold medal bout in Paris Games, Bindra said, “During traumatic periods in an athlete’s career, mental healthcare becomes crucial. The pressures and challenges athletes face, especially on such high platforms, can be overwhelming.
A sports psychologist plays a vital role in these times.” We also published the following articles recently Impact of finishing just shy of the podium is deeply mental: Abhinav Bindra Indian athletes had several medal successes at the Paris Olympics but faced heartbreak with eight finishing fourth. Abhinav Bindra emphasized the importance of mental health in managing such setbacks.
Mpower launched Athlete Mind Performance to improve mental resilience and athletic performance. Addressing mental health is essential for achieving and maintaining athletic excellence. 'Work in Progress': Abhinav Bindra on mental health training for Indian Athletes: Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra emphasised mental health's crucial role in athletes' performance, urging sports administrators to prioritise it.
Highlighting recent progress, such as having a mental health expert at the Paris Olympics, Bindra stressed the need for ongoing efforts at the grassroots level. He also shared personal experiences on balancing mental well-being with professional sports. Medals or no medals-Athletes are accountable to Taxpayer Dr.
P S M Chandran reflects on Indian athletes' performances at the Los Angeles and Paris Olympics. He cites issues like weight management mishaps and a lack of sports science during P T Usha's time. Despite better facilities in Paris, India secured just one silver and five bronze medals, prompting calls for accountability.
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