Cultivating a Winning Mentality: India's Strive for Olympic Glory in Table Tennis

Massimo Constantini, India's national table tennis coach, highlights the importance of a strong winning mentality for Indian paddlers to excel on the global stage. He praises players like Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula for their historic performance at the Paris Games and sets ambitious targets for future Olympic cycles.

Navigating the chaotic Delhi traffic can be an overwhelming task, but for those accustomed to it daily, finding a way to emerge unscathed becomes second nature. That's how India's national table tennis coach, Massimo Constantini, explains what Indian paddlers need to excel at the highest level.

They need to be on top of their game and test themselves in challenging situations to learn how to handle pressure and perform under the most demanding circumstances. The Italian, who took over two months ago for his third stint as the India coach, is pleased with how Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula fared at the Paris Games, where India had two singles players competing in the pre-quarterfinals for the first time.

Constantini views their historic performance in Paris as a warm-up, suggesting he will approach the next Olympic cycle with bigger targets. 'To be consistently on top, winning mentality should be there all the time,' Constantini said. Both Manika and Sreeja were in advantageous positions in their respective Round of 16 matches but let the edge slip. Constantini wants Indian players to consistently go deep in draws, face pressure, and get used to it.

He likened mastering pressure to driving confidently in Delhi traffic, emphasizing that the more one experiences a situation, the better their confidence grows. Currently, Manika is placed 28th, and Sreeja is 25th in world rankings. Constantini aims to have more Indian players in the top 10, seeing the current progress as a good warm-up for 2028.

Even though Manika is on the wrong side of her 20s, Constantini believes her age won't hinder further progress. 'This (Paris Olympics) is a warm-up for me. We are moving well, and I'm very happy about all the players' performances,' he said. He emphasized the importance of a stronger winning mentality for future Olympic success, acknowledging the maturity and winning background seen in top international players.

(With inputs from agencies.)