Photo via Hindustan Times

How a 'liberating' approach won Nethra her first Asian Games medal

Sailor Nethra Kumanan successfully transformed a more free and internal mindset into her maiden Asian Games medal, claiming bronze in the women dinghy category. Competing in her fourth edition of the continental multi-sport event, the seasoned competitor prioritized personal execution over external expectations after finishing fourth at the previous Games in Hangzhou and missing the podium in prior appearances dating back to 2014.

Reflecting on her career path after becoming the initial Indian female sailor to reach the Olympics, the twenty-nine-year-old athlete from Chennai noted that traditional pressure had previously caused her to freeze during crucial moments. To counter this, she spent the winter preparing in Gran Canaria and utilized a training stint in Los Angeles alongside psychological preparation and mental visualization to block out external noise and focus entirely on her performance.

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