Shooting | ‘Expectations put you in the future but it is important to stay in the present to perform well’
Indian shooting coaches and high-performance staff are emphasizing mental conditioning and staying in the present to prepare athletes for the upcoming Asian Games. The focus is on process-oriented performance rather than the pressure of medal expectations.
Why it matters
This reflects the modern approach to sports psychology in Indian athletics, aiming to improve performance consistency under high-pressure international conditions.
Ronak Pandit with Esha Singh. | Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
Shooting is perhaps the one Indian sport that garners maximum spotlight at the Asian Games, and rightly so.
At the previous edition in 2023, Indian shooters returned with an impressive haul of 22 medals and the expectations this time around are expectedly high.
For the men working on the men and women holding the rifles and pistols, however, performances take precedence over expectations.
“Our focus is always on delivering good performances but that doesn’t only mean medals, which also depend on what others do, out of our control. We know the strengths and weaknesses of our athletes and we are working on developing the former and reducing the latter.
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