With just a few months left for the Commonwealth and Asian Games, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is in a rush to meet the athletes' demand for mental trainers ahead of the continental mega-events.
SAI director general Jiji Thomson said there has been a unanimous demand from the National Sports Federations to rope in mental trainers/sports psychologists for the athletes taking part in the Glasgow CWG (July 23-August 3) and Asiad (September 19-October 4) in Incheon.
"We will be providing mental trainers to the athletes competing in the two big events. Sport nowadays is as mental as physical and we hope the mind experts will help our athletes," Thomson told PTI.
Also Read
However, the SAI chief conceded that it is turning out to be quite a challenge for SAI given the short time in hand.
"We have begun our search but it has not been easy so far. There is no time to invite overseas applications and there are not many good mental trainers available in India. So far, we have finalised two trainers and one of them is already with the archery squad," SAI secretary Neeraj Kansal said.
India will take part in 13 out of 17 disciplines in Glasgow and 30 out of 36 events at Incheon.
SAI only has only Rs. 165 crore at its disposal for preparations and can get more funds once the next central government takes charge.
The archers have been quite vocal about their need for a sports psychologist after their failure in the 2012 London Olympics.
Even the boxers have expressed their desire to have a psychologist to deal with the mental stress that comes with competing at the highest level.
