"VAN" (Sports Desk - 30.07.2026) :: Pressure. For most people, it is something to avoid. For elite
athletes, it is something to embrace.
As Team India continues its campaign at the Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow, the medals have highlighted not only physical excellence but also
the mental strength that separates champions from the rest. Every athlete
competes under pressure. The difference lies in how they respond to it.
For India's athletes, mental preparation begins long before they enter the
arena. Hours of training build physical strength, but years of experience teach
competitors how to remain calm, focused and composed when expectations
are at their highest.
Olympic champion Mirabai Chanu believes pressure has never been
something to fear.
"I have always believed that pressure cannot weigh me down. When I
compete for India, I use pressure as a catalyst to improve my performance.
Mental strength and pressure are closely linked, so I actually love pressure."
That ability to channel pressure into performance has become a common
thread running through Team India's campaign in Glasgow.
High jumper Sarvesh Kushare, who won the silver medal after competing in
difficult weather conditions against a strong field, said pressure often brings out
his best performances.
"There was pressure because the field was very competitive and the weather
was cold. But I embraced it. Tejaswin Shankar was there motivating me, and I
have done well in three major competitions this month because I have learnt
to enjoy pressure."
The message is echoed across disciplines.
Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain, who has already assured herself of a
medal and is chasing gold, says handling pressure is now an essential part of
her preparation.
"I have learnt to accept pressure as part of the process. From the beginning of
my career, I knew that if I wanted to perform at the highest level, I had to master
pressure."
For Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra, expectations are now a
constant companion whenever he competes wearing the India colours.
"Even after all these years, representing India still brings pressure. It doesn't
matter which stadium I compete in; there are always expectations and
different conditions. But I never see pressure as something that weighs me
down. I see it as a positive force that lifts me."
Every athlete finds a different way to stay composed. Some rely on routines,
others on experience or the encouragement of teammates. For weightlifting
silver medallist Gyaneshwari Yadav, the answer lies in faith.
"I read the Bhagavad Gita before competition. It keeps me calm and helps me
compete confidently, even in a high-pressure environment."
Dr. P. T. Usha, President IOA, herself one of India's greatest athletes, said
learning to handle pressure is one of the defining characteristics of champions.
"Pressure is part of elite sport. Every athlete feels it, whether they are competing
for the first time or are an Olympic champion. The key is to trust your
preparation, stay focused on your process and never allow expectations to
distract you from your performance. Champions are not those who avoid
pressure, but those who learn to perform through it."
As Team India moves deeper into the Games, the pressure will only increase.
Finals will become tougher, expectations will rise and every performance will
be watched more closely.
Yet if the voices from Glasgow reveal one common lesson, it is this: pressure is
not the enemy of success. In the hands of champions, it becomes the force
that drives them to achie even more.
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