All posts tagged: Sports Psychology

Like Messi, Mbappe misses from the spot, but still sinks Morocco

Like Messi, Mbappe misses from the spot, but still sinks Morocco

Published by Webster

Sometimes, time is a player’s biggest enemy. Too much time, he broods, he doubts and misses. Hard-pressed for time, the instincts take over and the muscle memory kicks in. The tantrums of time don’t spare the most luminescent footballers in the world. In a day’s time, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both failed to beat the goalkeeper from 12 yards. Yet, with guilt gnawing like mites, time running out, legs tiring, they produced goals from more improbable directions in open play. Mbappe’s goal that soothed the French nerves and broke Morocco’s belief was a stunning blend of timing and precision, ruthlessness and opportunism. France would win 2-0 to be in the semi-final. For his goal, Mbappe had just two seconds to decide. His back was facing the goal, but he manufactured a pocket of space for him to take a sharp U-turn, took a velcro-touch to take the ball away from the defenders, just lifted his right leg and threaded the ball through the narrow space between Issa Diop and Noussair Mazraoui. The ball still had …

In Messi’s second goal & Sachin’s googly to Moin, an insight into genius minds

In Messi’s second goal & Sachin’s googly to Moin, an insight into genius minds

Published by Webster

Even in the least flashy goal of his World Cup hat-trick, Lionel Messi’s genius was quietly at work. All one needed to do was look closely. At first glance, his second goal comes across as a plain vanilla poacher’s strike — an easy tap-in from a few metres with the goalkeeper out of position. It is only on a second look, ideally in slow motion, that the layer of intrigue is unearthed in this seemingly open-and-shut goal. On the frame of the goalkeeper sprawled on the ground, after his futile full-length desperate dive to his right, helplessly watching the ball pass him by on his left, was the smooth cursive Messi signature. The Argentine great could have easily scored by going to the right of the goalkeeper – clearly the best option, as he only had to swing his right foot and hook the ball. He could have even tried the fancier, and often-used, alternative of chipping the ball over the goalie. But Messi, as usual, took the less travelled path — pushing the ball …

Sourav Ganguly Explains Difference Between Aggression and Anger

Sourav Ganguly Explains Difference Between Aggression and Anger

Published by Parlour News

A legend of Indian cricket, Sourav Ganguly’s career spanned more than a decade with 113 Tests and 311 ODIs to his name. In a conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, he revisited his leadership philosophy, explaining how he encouraged aggression in the team while drawing a clear line between aggression and anger. The former player and commentator said the shift began with the 2001 series against Australia. Reflecting on Steve Waugh’s on-field approach, Ganguly noted how he consistently applied pressure on every opponent. “His strategy was to put so much pressure and make sure that the other team loses,” he said, adding, “This was his final front.” DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.  Further, Ganguly shared that he moulded his personality by adding aggression. “The game needed it. That’s what India needed at that time,” he said. He also emphasised that Team India’s on-field persona was very different from who they were off the field, especially in the way they competed. “Be good boys, but outside …

Gregory Gaultier, Anahat Singh’s coach, on what it took to win Worlds gold after four stinging final defeats

Gregory Gaultier, Anahat Singh’s coach, on what it took to win Worlds gold after four stinging final defeats

Published by Webster

Gregory Gaultier won four silver medals at the squash World Open (Championships) over 10 years, before he struck his first gold. In an illustrious career spanning 22 long years, starting out as a French prodigy, he ended with nine Worlds medals, including four bronze. Now, tasked with guiding young Indian talent Anahat Singh, the deep-thinking Frenchman brings a unique understanding of losing from winning positions and, learning from those defeats and never letting go of the ambition, before the gold is finally nailed. The 43-year-old would reckon ‘choke’ is a very English word, and in a very Albert Camus-fashion embraces the absurdity of keeping on losing, while keeping on wanting to win, in a way that only sport could quantify. “Today, if I flashback that first hard loss of a Worlds final in 2006, I’ll ask myself, ‘Gregory, if you had won that final, would life have turned out the same? Would I have done it all’?” he wonders, in an interaction before heading to India for the JSW Open in Mumbai, where Anahat will …

Increasing acceptance and role in Olympic disciplines

Increasing acceptance and role in Olympic disciplines

Published by Webster

Sports psychology is carving out an essential role in India’s Olympic sports ecosystem as athletes, coaches, and organizations recognize that mental strength is as crucial as physical training. In recent years, Indian Olympians have increasingly sought support from sports psychologists to enhance focus, manage anxiety, and improve their competitive mindsets. This growing acceptance reflects a shift from stigma and neglect to an integrated, holistic approach toward athlete preparation and well-being. The shift toward acceptance The Indian sporting landscape historically prioritized physical skills while overlooking the psychological dimensions of athletic performance. However, influential athletes like Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra have publicly emphasized the importance of mental fitness in achieving success. Bindra’s advocacy, alongside others like Vinesh Phogat and Maana Patel, has helped reduce the taboo attached to sports psychology. These athletes have shared how guided mental sessions helped them manage pressure and setbacks during their careers, encouraging younger athletes to follow suit. Government initiatives such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have expanded access to …

Shooting: How Charlie Mackesy’s book helped Arjun Babuta overcome Paris Olympics heartbreak and win silver at World Cup | Sport-others News

Shooting: How Charlie Mackesy’s book helped Arjun Babuta overcome Paris Olympics heartbreak and win silver at World Cup | Sport-others News

Published by Webster

Months after he finished up fourth in the men’s 10m air rifle final in Paris Olympics, Arjun Babuta would receive the author Charlie Mackesy’s picture book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse from his coach Deepali Deshpande. The picture-book, which was later made into an 2023 Oscar winning animated short film, revolved around the idea of love, hope, friendship and the courage of asking for help with the storyline involving a boy getting lost in winter wilderness and crossing paths with a mole, a fox and a horse and eventually choosing to stay with his new friends. As Babuta clinced Silver, his first international medal, just 0.1 points behind eventual gold medal winner Sheng Lihao — who won gold at Paris Games — in the men’s 10m air rifle final in ISSF World Cup in Peru, Deshpande’s mind was taken to the book she gifted to Babuta. “It was a different Arjun post the fourth place finish in Paris. For some months, he was searching for answers and would even shut himself …

Paddy Upton interview on helping Gukesh for World Chess Championship

Paddy Upton interview on helping Gukesh for World Chess Championship

Published by Webster

About six months back, when Paddy Upton was approached to coach an Indian athlete for his first appearance at a World Championship, the South African mind guru was not sure what to make of the offer. In the past, Upton helped the Indian cricket team claim the 2011 World Cup and the Indian men’s hockey team seal a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. But this offer was different: it was a chance to help D Gukesh become the youngest-ever world chess champion at the age of 18. Paddy Upton has worked with athletes from 19 different sports, but rarely with someone this young, that too a chess player, on a one-on-one basis – which explains his initial hesitation. “I wasn’t sure about working with him initially because I tend to not work with people who are too young. They haven’t really matured or evolved. But Gukesh has just been an absolute blessing and a gift to work with. He is super-intelligent. We’re able to have amazingly detailed and deeply complex conversations,” Paddy Upton tells …

Abhinav Bindra asks to treat athletes as humans, not medal-winning robots

Published by Webster

Abhinav Bindra urged the sports ecosystem to humanize athletes and not expect them to perform like robots. He was speaking to sports psychologists in a virtual session at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range here on Thursday. The psychologists are attending a certification program focusing on the critical role of Sports Psychologists in the lives of Shooting Sports Athletes. The program is being conducted by the National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR), in collaboration with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala. “The first and foremost job is to treat athletes as human beings and not to keep conditioning them as medal-winning robots. Building trust and relationships with the athletes is very important and there should be absolute patience aplenty in the sports psychologists to deal with the constant mental and emotional evolution of the athletes,” said the 2008 Olympics men’s 10 Air Rifle gold medalist. “The shooters who competed in the Tokyo Olympics and the shooters who …

Abhinav Bindra is among the panelist at psychology workshop in Dr KSSR

Published by Webster

A five-day Certification program focusing on the critical role of Sports Psychologists in the lives of Shooting Athletes, is scheduled from May 20 to 24 at the Sports Authority of India Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi. The program shall be conducted by the National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR), in collaboration with National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala. Through a combination of lectures, panel discussions, and practical training sessions led by eminent sports scientists, high-performance coaches, shooting champions, and administrators, the program promises to introduce participants to cutting-edge strategies and practical interventions. Some of the high-profiled speakers include 2008 Olympics gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, Indian Shooting High Performance Director Dr Pierre Beauchamp, shooting coaches Samaresh Jung, Ronak Pandit as well as other champion players, coaches and administrators. The certification is for Sports Psychologists and aims at capacity building which will help all stake holders to understand the importance of psychological components in Shooting. This intensive program …