Abhinav Bindra Emphasizes Mental Health: A Crucial Aspect in Sports

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra highlighted the importance of mental health in sports, urging for training at the grassroots level. During a virtual event by Mpower, he discussed the strides made with mental health experts at the Paris Olympics and his personal journey with meditation and overcoming challenges.

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Friday highlighted the ongoing efforts to train Indian athletes in mental health, emphasizing that such training must extend to the grassroots level. He noted that mental health directly impacts an athlete's well-being and called for shared responsibility among sports administrators.

"It's an area that's a work in progress, but essential across sports disciplines," Bindra said during a virtual event organized by Mpower to introduce AMP: A Sports Psychology Division aimed at elevating athlete performance. He stressed that mental health significantly influences athletic performance and overall well-being.

Bindra pointed out the progressive step of including a mental health expert in the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics. "This inclusion marks a positive shift, but continued efforts are needed to ensure these benefits reach grassroots levels," he added. Bindra also debunked the notion that modern athletes are 'softer' and shared his personal journey of finding balance through meditation after winning the 2008 Olympic gold.

(With inputs from agencies.)