How Indian Athletes Cope with Pre-Competition Pressure at Paris Olympics
As the Indian contingent prepares to kick off their campaign at the Paris Olympics, athletes are employing various strategies to manage the immense pressure and external distractions that come with competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, emphasizes the importance of accepting the pressure rather than fighting it. “The best way to deal with the pressure is to stop fighting it. Just accept it and you’ll be fine,” he advises.
Manu Bhaker, who experienced a disappointing performance at the Tokyo Games, has adopted a more relaxed approach this time around. “I am more relaxed. I am not telling myself, ‘do this, do that,'” she says. She finds solace in playing the violin, journaling, and reading.
Rhythm Sangwan, another pistol shooter, uses music to create her own zone. “It helps me find my zone. I might even curate a playlist for Paris,” she says.
Boxer Nikhat Zareen has chosen to disconnect from social media and focus solely on her training. “It’s better to avoid distractions. I have cut down on my public appearances and I will soon disappear from social media too. Paris is my sole focus,” she says.
Rafael Nadal’s pre-match cold shower ritual is a testament to the power of habits in helping athletes stay focused. “It helps me enter a new space in which I feel my power and resilience grow,” he writes in his autobiography.
Staying in the moment is crucial for athletes to shut out the noise. “Embrace the moment rather than succumb to it because a night before the final, all the talk about confidence and technique goes out of the window,” says Bindra.
Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and world champion, believes in staying away from the distractions of home. “Over-reliance on a particular routine can be counterproductive because you won’t find that curated atmosphere all the time,” says his physiotherapist, Ishaan Marwaha.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, found peace and quiet in Saarbrucken in the lead-up to the Olympics. “I can focus better,” she says.
Ultimately, each athlete has their own unique way of coping with the pressure of the Olympics. But one thing is clear: the ability to find their zone and shut out the noise will be essential for success in Paris.
