‘Medals will only come when Indian players are convinced there’s no expectation’
4 min readFeb 13, 2026 10:41 PM IST For an Italian, India’s foreign TT coach Massimo Costantini, surprisingly believes in the economy of expression. Not for him the fervent impassioned talks or the comical pleading hands of the Azzurri that have inspired emojis, when coaching. He’s more Michael than Sonny, and even if not quite the Don of the Indian paddler’s paddock, Costantini reckons Indian charges need the assuring, cushioning bubble of the trusted consigliere, a role he slips into. “There is one rule only — medals will only come when Indian players are convinced there’s no expectation. Pressure brings an element of disturbance, and I want to be the last person to add to it. I am going to be their shield against creating expectations,” says the 67-year-old bespectacled bard of strategic silences, as Indian TT approaches the Asian Games, from where they last returned with a bronze in women’s doubles, raising demands of an encore. “Even that came when least expected,” he stresses. When Diya Chitale and Manush Shah won the WTT Contender …
