Chandigarh: When Abhinav Bindra stood atop the Olympic podium in Beijing, it wasn’t just India’s first individual gold medal, it was the triumph of composure under pressure. Behind that calm, focused demeanour was the guidance of Dr Amit Bhattacharjee, the renowned sports psychologist and mental trainer, who has shaped the minds of India’s top athletes.As the world marks World Mental Health Day, Dr Bhattacharjee reminds us that real champions are not just physically trained, they are mentally fortified. “Mental fitness,” he says, “is about sustaining focus, regulating emotions like anxiety and frustration, and adapting under pressure. It’s the ability to use everything you’ve learned when it matters most.”For Dr Bhattacharjee, the mind is the true performance engine. “Physical training builds capability. But mental training ensures that capability is delivered under pressure. The psyche and soma — mind and body, are hardwired together,” ” he explains. Athletes today face a storm of external pressures that go far beyond the playing field. “Social media criticism, sponsor expectations, interviews, they all amplify the fear of failure,” he says, adding, “The noise can easily erode confidence and focus.”Behind every podium finish lies a journey through invisible struggles, injury-related stress, imposter syndrome, mood swings, and burnout. “Athletes are expected to perform like machines. But even the most disciplined players can only sustain excellence if their mind is cared for,” says Dr Bhattacharjee.To help them cope, he relies on what he calls psycho-innovation, a blend of relaxation, meditation, and muscle-calming techniques that counter fear and anxiety. “We conduct periodic psychological checks, maintain mood logs, and align athletes’ mindsets with micro and long-term goals,” he explains, adding, “It’s a continuous process of awareness and alignment.”Dr Bhattacharjee’s toolkit is diverse, from mindfulness scripts and visualisation to Chi meditation and bio-mechanics with ancient yoga techniques, and frequency modulation therapy. His methods have borne fruit. Among his recent mentees are shooter Abhinav Choudhary, who bagged four medals at the Asian Shooting Championship, and badminton player Anupama Upadhyaya, winner of the Yonex Sunrise All-India Senior Ranking Tournament in Visakhapatnam, among many.Dr Bhattacharjee is passionate about clearing misconceptions around sports psychology. “It’s often seen as something for the weak. That’s wrong,” he insists. “Mental training is for everyone who wants to maximise performance. And it’s not about thinking positively all the time, it’s about thinking realistically, step by step, even under pressure,” he says. He also distinguishes between sports psychology and mental training. “Sports psychology focuses on motivation. Mental training combines motivation with meditation, physical preparation, and cognitive balance, engaging both sides of the brain,” he explains. For Dr Bhattacharjee, mental health is not a luxury but a performance necessity. “No athlete should neglect their mental well-being,” he says firmly. “Even icons like Abhinav Bindra prioritise it. True excellence in sport, and in life, comes from balancing mental and physical health,” he adds.As he reflects on decades of mentoring India’s finest athletes, one truth stands out, resilience is the real measure of greatness. This World Mental Health Day, Dr Bhattacharjee’s message is simple, winning is important, but well-being sustains victory. Because, as he puts it, “A calm mind and a strong heart make the real champion.”
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