Present Tense, Future Uncertain: Sports psychologists working on emotional vulnerability of athletes

Uncertainty is so intrinsic to sports that elite athletes will not have much trouble coping up with a pandemic-forced lockdown, feel India's top sports psychologists as they become a part of their journey into an unchartered territory.

Rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted minds as much as health and productivity, sports pyshologists Dr Chaitanya Sridhar, Nanaki J Chadha, Keerthana Swaminathan are dealing with athletes across disciplines and economic spectrum, being their "sounding board, friend" and enabling them to process the magnitude of the situation.

"When you are dealing with athletes, you can broadly divide them in three categories -- the elite, the ones who are at national level aspiring to make it and the next group is academy bunch. The reaction to lockdown will be different," said Dr Sridhar, who is associated with JSW Sports and has worked with 'GoSports' Foundation and IPL franchise RCB.

For performance analyst and sports psychologist Nanaka, this is the time when "you help them steer clear of negative thoughts."
"As a psychologist, it breaks my heart to see those who were really peaking before the big tournament. They are the ones likely to be disappointed more. But I am a big believer in Rahul Dravid's statement: 'Control the controllables'."
So how does he deal with it?
"One of the athletes told me 'Ma'am, I am learning how to play piano online'. I found it heartening. But I get worried with those athletes who are always trying hard to be positive. Now that's the problem with our Indian system."
"One swimmer came to me and asked, 'Ma'am what if I don't qualify for Olympics?' I just asked 'Would you stop swimming if you don't qualify?' The answer was 'No'. I told him you have the answer."