Lakshya Sen on Champion Mindset, Olympic Heartbreak, Injuries & Comebacks | FO504 Raj Shamani

0:00It's necessary to be in an athlete. I'm going to be the best in the world. You always believe in yourself that whether it be world number one, whether it be any opponent, I'm going to win. There's nothing special. Today, Lakshya Sen, one of the best badminton players in the world today. Lakshya Sen, first of all, became Indian male badminton player, who reached the semifinals to the Paris Olympics in 2024. Tell me about Paris. How does it feel like you're out in the Olympics? He played well, but of course I'm a little disappointed. It was a heartbreak. I didn't want to even go and have a meal after the finals.

0:38We just really were at the tournament, Jita. You said I had to fight my inner demons. What did you mean by that? Just after the injuries when I didn't play for two months, it was holding me back that I could play this match. Because without painkillers, I was not able to play because of the injuries. And after three, four months, I won the Australian Open. Lakshasen, he was relentless. Lakshasen from India. Watch this podcast to see how Lakshasen is building a champion mindset to win at the highest level. He spoke about Indonesia. People create so much noise for the opponent who is a non-Indian player.

1:14It's a bad crowd. Every time we go there, great atmosphere to play in. You can't even hear the score. What do coaches say behind it? He doesn't hear it. And then if you win, the crowd is getting out of the crowd. When do you give up mentally? Never. Once I'm in the court I don't like to think that it's been over.

1:35I know, I've got it. Just have to do it. When this case happened, a certificate, somebody filed an FIR against you. What did you think in that period? When you are playing and India cricket team also playing, obviously nobody is talking about you. Do you feel bad at that time? Do you want to point out one difference in world number one? What is the toughest crowd you have played in front of?

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2:47You wrote some letter to Coach. What was that? handwritten letter at an early age what was that story I was reading about it yes

3:00Vimal Sarja was our coach and me and my doubles partner I used to also play doubles and we had lost to a certain pair in the three tournament it was under 13 or 15 category that we used to play and as a kid I used to hate losing that I didn't want to lose and then our tournaments were under 13 which were all India ranking tournaments were over 2-3 tournaments continuously so we felt like how did we get over 2-3 times and then at that time I and my partner decided that we wrote that we are ready to work hard and next time we have to win and we have given sir it was like a manifestation letter and then we gave it to sir and sir said yes you work towards it and then help and then we won against them so I think from that time we were also introduced to mental training as such that you have written things and you write down your aims yes you want to be an Olympic athlete you want to win at the biggest stage in the competition but what's your next step?

4:30you have to write that down what do you want to do in the next 6 months? what do you want to do in the next year? what do you want to do in the next year? so I think that was a very early age that we started in the letter that we want to win and then we also win the match so that's why that story is so nice so when you are in academy you said that you were there you were watching all the big players national champions and you were watching all the CES Olympics and when you see all of these people academy, you are all champions when did you think I'm better than these guys because it's a very inherent athlete thought that I will kill them, or I will become better from them.

5:17I will become better, I will be better. When was the first thought?

5:26Looking at them, I was inspired by things, that yes, I want to win against the top players, I have to beat the best players in the world, but we played in small categories so I have to be the best here I will be here today and then after a point when I will be senior then I have to beat all those players so that was a belief but that was never I didn't remember that I am good with them but yes it was that if I keep doing the right things I will be good and then dad he has been guiding us from childhood and he was also he told them that you don't have anything special not just the academy but also the international players that we were playing against because our fair young athletes who start competing in international level tournaments one thing is that they are He is strong, he is so strong, he is so strong.

6:45When we go out of the early age, we had to finish a way. That no one is better than you. Everyone has two hands, two legs and one racket. That shuttlecock is so tight and all humans are equal to all the players in the world. so that was very important to get out of the fear and I think that you said that I was better with them so that was the way to bring us all together and then if I get opportunity to play in front of an opponent then I can kill anyone in this competition so that was very good to go fair and it was very important at a young age that we were participating with them in international tournaments I did my first training camp in Indonesia for a month when I was 12 years old.

7:42My dad, my big brother and 2-3 players were there and we stayed there for a month. So, my father took us and said, Now, what you get here, you have to eat. You have to adapt to the things. How many hours they are doing training. If they are doing 8 hours, you have to train 8 hours. Just go there with an open mind to learn something there. So that was our fair. Because we thought that Indonesia or China will do so many hours. So that was fair. So early when we traveled, that was fair. Then over time, it was not the same. When was the moment? Which match, which city, which country, which player?

8:37I think when we were under 15 category, we were able to travel for international tournaments and then when we started winning against Chinese opponents and Indonesian players, so that was going on I mean it wasn't like that one day but over time we started thinking it's just another player who is playing in front of you and you become better and then yes you give equally respect they are all world class players they can win against you but they are nothing special you have your own qualities as an Indian he might be stronger than you certain opponent but you have better skills than him you have believe you have to come there that you don't have to lose and then you can just win what did you think before?

9:39when it was not the belief it was afraid of it first, in the starting tournament it was afraid what is afraid of international players what are they better that they have more skills because they have more height, they have more reflexes, equipment will be better. Something that seems to be better. Or is it just a care for a person? It was a care for a person. But the thing that has reduced today is because in India there are so many athletes and we are at a global stage. We are all fighting. I think in the last 10-12 years there have been many results. from that before obviously but 1-2 people but I think India overall in Bannampton has improved a lot in last 10-15 years so that belief also grows and then at the same time when he was in childhood he was better but I think over time you play 1-2 years you start winning so there's belief that it's a process and that's what we have to do even my dad when he used to travel with the Indian teams he always told the athletes that there's nothing special you guys can win against them you guys can beat them it's not that if they're winning they'll get better you can also start to believe that you can do it but it's gone slowly and before it was only fear this about because they are international or was there anything specific yes that they are faster than you on court or they have done this or played this but then also you have to look at your qualities that you can better your touch play is good your skill is very good yes you have to keep working on your physical strength everything every aspect of the game but yes you are you are you are you are you are you are you are you are sometimes arrogance comes to this like like it's like it's it's it's like athlete court doesn't this arrogance and believe that I am best to I am world class and I will forward I will so it's like it's comparatively more difficult so all the athletes around the world if you see from the old Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali Rafael Nadal or Virat Kohli I don't know Carlos or Djokovic this is a certain level of arrogance that when they go back they believe that this is the same for that day for that moment these guys are as good as gods nobody can't hurt them so arrogance that I am the best on the court yes to some extent I think every athlete can have that self-belief that you can win and you always believe in yourself whether it be world number one whether it be any opponent I'm going to win it today so that belief and then you also give equal respect to your opponent ki yes they are world class players but yes they are nothing nothing special you can you can win against them and uh i think last uh 15 years when i came in senior category even my first year when i reached the all england final from that obviously when you have not played in like a big event you don't have enough belief you're still learning you're still trying to play against and figure out how to play with them, different kinds of opponents, different tournaments, you are constantly also losing.

13:56so that's a little bit but yes once I started playing in the senior circuit I think in 2022 when I was I played the All England finals that time and then we went on to win the Thomas Cup title so I think that belief came to me yes now I've got it now I know I've got the skill I can beat any player in the world and I belong here like I have to every time give myself an equal chance against any big opponent that I will go to every big tournament as a title contender and I can do that so that belief came to me yes they are all world class players at days you win at days you lose but that belief helps us that you belong there and then over time it comes from things when you have played for such a long time but I feel it's very very important for athletes to know what you can do and what strengths are and always have that belief that you are the best which concept is inat?

15:18you know what inat? I don't know if you pronounce it inat or how do you pronounce it Serbian concept so commentators say that the Serbian players including Chokovic these people don't have literal meaning in English but it means that in a way I will prove people wrong proof let the world think that it will not be able to let the world say whatever they want to I will prove them wrong and in anger and they are inherently born with this anger and they just love proving people wrong they say that people doubt them and then go to prove wrong so they operate from that place and they say that feeling and many Serbian players have seen commentators have you ever felt like that that I will go to court and know that people will win but I will prove wrong yes you love playing in front of such a crowd especially if you're playing in Indonesia or someone's Indonesian against so the whole crowd is just cheering them and it's fun to silence that crowd but I think for me I think from my childhood I've been very calm on court very when I'm performing my best it's just all flowing like I don't have to make so much effort so somewhere or the other when these kind of opportunities come so if I think too much that I have to do now I think that's not but that's why as a personality I've been like very calm on and off the court so people say that you should be a little and you should be angry in your game but I think from where i operate the best is when i'm like very calm cool and composed that i know i've got it i just have to do it so that feeling like that nobody can nobody knows how to get it i think over time you have to try and find it so i think personally for me that is the best time where I play the best when I am calm when I am not thinking about what is going on out and at times when I have come out of the matches also whether it be how many people are sitting 10 ,000 people are sitting 8 ,000 people are sitting in the stadium they are doing my against or supporting me it just blocks out for me and it's only about the game in that time so that is where I operate the match so I try that nothing else affect me but I just want to play the bandwinton which which means I want to play I know the feeling that I am playing good today I am playing good and then even controlling so that those days when I have come out of the matches I am like yes like it was all on an automatic mode that he is running free flowing free flowing badminton and my heartbeats are calm in like a stable this thing and I'm just going there so I think from that childhood it's been like that so I've always tried to build on it from that childhood that I approach that mentality that I know I've got it even though the scores are I'm down or something I can still come back in the game and I can still play So even of the biggest stages, I never think about celebrations as such.

19:16I mean, if I win too, all my thoughts come in, then also distracts me a little bit. But I just want to play. I just want to enjoy playing manminton and come out and... Okay, celebrations and other things, you play in such big stages, emotions come out. But I try to block everything and then just focus on the game. You spoke about Indonesia. Yeah. So, they call Stora Fever, right? Yeah. Yeah, Stora Fever. Explain what happens, because I've heard, at least on the internet, it shows that Stora Fever is in a different way, because people create so much hate and noise for the opponent, who are non-Indonation players.

19:56I mean, that's a very bad crowd for anyone. Right? And that's what you just mentioned, that Indonesian players enjoy to hide. Explain Stora Fever experience, I have played a lot of times so my first time I have heard so many things about it I have played tournaments in Indonesia before that but junior category and then first year in my senior circuit where I started playing tournaments and already I had done well in the juniors where I was I think the world junior bronze medalist and then again even other titles i have done well in big stadiums where i i feel almost similar crowd but i've never faced such a crowd in the senior category where the whole crowd is watching and they are crazy about bandwinton so first year in the end i was not also playing so well in that period of time i had stopped playing the junior category and it's tough i was around 120 ranking in the world so that time for the tournament i played malaysia that was a 500 event again in indonesia a 500 event so 500 event and above they are in this tournament from that to that tournament they are not in this tournament so first day of the match i was in the qualifying because that time ranking was not good and morning i had an 8am match against a Thailand player and then in the beginning of the match and I enter the stadium around 7 o 'clock in the morning and I see the whole stadium is full at 7 o 'clock in the morning and those qualifying matches where nobody actually comes in the time and then any player walks into the stadium they are just shouting, they are excited to see badminton again so that level crowd, mahal and I was standing up at 7am and I said let's go I will warm up and then I was in the warm up hall I just came inside because we had practice court but I just before my matches I like to sit in the hall for at least 5 minutes to see how the shuttle is moving but obviously I didn't play so I just entered how the lighting is and I enter and see so many people and I'm like How did it come here?

22:29How did it come here? And the whole half stadium was full. And by the time match started, it was the whole stadium. And I couldn't just move on court. I mean, I was with my opponent of Thailand. And he was a player who people enjoyed playing. And nobody knew me at that time. So they were all supporting for him. All the Indonesians were supporting for him. That he plays. quite senior player and tough match for me but he is supporting him and I'm like what do I do? and I was like literally helpless on court I lost 21-10, 21-9 and I came out of the stadium then I was working that time with a coach from Denmark Martin Frost I think he's been one of the legends of the game and he was sitting for my match and came out and said it's okay it happens It's Estora.

23:25You'll get used to it. Nothing to worry that I can't play. But yeah, I mean, the atmosphere of the world is always there. Every time we go there, it's like great atmosphere to play in. It's fun to play in the mall. Obviously, and then even a lot of drift because so many people come there to see the stadium. The match gets warmer. They have to maintain AC temperature. so it blows up more speed around day time at 12 am the shuttle moves differently evening the shuttle moves differently in the morning of the match so the hall is warm and it is running more speed so it can change anytime the speed of the AC so you don't know which side drift will be less or less so it's a tricky stadium but after playing 2-3 years that you have a little bit of a C because we always train here in a normal stadium where there is no big AC's because there is no crowd practice where you are doing so that you have to keep a little focus on it interesting sometimes you have played against Indonesian players yes yes uh level match where crowd is one sided with them uh there was this tournament against Jonathan Christie I was playing in quarter finals Indonesia Open so there again same kind of situation 3 games eventually he won the match but quite quite a good feeling to play and then if you are winning then crowd is also happening crowd is you get a point there there is no problem in the stadium and then when he gets a point you can't even hear the score and the coaches don't hear the score behind it, they don't hear it too they have to hear what they're saying it's so loud and then again, I'll play when I was playing the Asian Games finals in China again, Shiuki against team event finals I was playing so at that time even the whole China crowd and then in a team because it was a team event and at that time it was a similar situation the whole crowd is supporting them and then you can't even hear a lot of things and then you win those matches it was a good thing what's the toughest crowd you played in front of?

26:12I would say it was it was Thomas Cup finals against Indonesia it was in Thailand but 90 % of the crowd stadium was filled with Indonesian fans Indonesia Thailand I will get it and then it was so and then first set I lost very easy 21-8 21-9 then I'm thinking what will happen like first set the crowd was bothering me a bit too much what's happening in the final but then second set again that as I said I had to block everything and then only coach what you're saying, what you're saying, what you're saying, just so much and then just focus on the game, what you're saying, just block everything and then try and play the match.

27:02Nice and then you ended up winning. Yeah I won that match. So what was that point switch? What did you say to your brain that don't listen to everyone, don't give attention? How do you block yourself? especially when you're one down like I think also because ACs affect some matches that you're starting from disadvantage so you're not finding your rhythm and you're not in the zone yet so at that time it's like what's going on and then you're thinking too much at times you have to take a little bit time that you think a little bit not just play the situation just say that I will play one point so what I mean whatever things are going on not just focus on oh it's the final this score is so much just keep trying and then tactically be very smart what to do next point what you have to do think about it maybe take a little bit more time in between points because you don't think your heart beat is strong and I think breath work helps a lot I mean for me finding a good way to breathe in between rallies in between points helps me to focus What do you do in breath work?

28:36Is there a technique or a tactic? So for warm ups I usually I've seen with the testing methods that have come up with my mental trainers with my trainers that if I am in a heart rate of 140-150 then it's a stage where I think the best and so I try and hit those heart rates before going into the match that I'm 140-150 and in the match I'm going to go above it but when I'm warming up. For that to go, it takes 2-3 minutes of that sustained and the starting part of it is a bit tough. So that happens in the warm up. I don't wait for it to happen. It's like the match when it starts, in the first few points, I don't want to breathe.

29:30When I warm up, I try and see that I hit those heart rates. I'm already gasping for a little bit and then it's like stable. after that so that fair or mental things you think like overthinking or that's when the heart rate is not at its best so over time as I said it also goes with the calm mindset that I have on court then I'm just know I know when to push when to play and I'm thinking about the point and then playing and yeah so I think knowing how your body behaves in certain situations over time we have worked with mental trainers coaches and they have helped me to again find that place what to do in warm up what are my routines for warm up just 5-10 minutes before going into the match just hit those heart rates in warm up so then you are then you know that you have warm up and then it's always starting but once it's there it's free flowing and then if you can get a good start from that you already start better on court first few points you don't want to give that advantage you're always trailing if your start is good it also helps with getting a good start to the match to hit those harder and then again in between the match if you know certain times you are a little pressure in certain times and he is only coming as a player so you just try and take time go for a shuttle chain be very smart at that time I just need to take few deep breaths and then for me again as i said five seconds in five seconds out and the breath is in control uh two three breaths and i'm back to normal that is how much we get in between rallies so you have to again find that sweet thought of five second in stop five second out you get back in the rhythm yeah and then you can and again when you're focusing on the breath you you can't think a lot of other things

32:10just stop just focus on the next point and that takes hardly 5 seconds what was your game plan what was your doing just know that know you have got it just move ahead just play the next point nice I love this the start part I am still stuck there 140 150 heart rate and to explain me if I am first time I am listening to an athlete and you have to explain world class start so explain me how to start the beginning what preparation is now a big day match let's say Olympics Olympics. So, the Olympics match is a big day, world is watching, it's one time, then it's four years. So, how do you start? The preparation on that day, specifically maybe a night before or on that day.

33:16Walk me through every process, like point by point, explain it a minute, but explain it to me, it's one thing. okay that's a coffee interesting mission and uh yes uh i have certain routines uh and that changes also depending on what your goals are for the tournament or if you have any injuries or your niggles or that you're coming back from or in the warm-up certain areas need certain focus physical like body wise and then so if let's say we play a match in the evening around five so again i would wake up around seven eight eight o 'clock in the morning uh have my have my breakfast like to be in the routine uh daily and then obviously because we have done it for so many years you can't also sleep after seven eight in the morning you uh you get a habitual to it but don't you want to sleep like more on the tournament day something is like yes tournament days we sleep more we sleep around let's say if you're sleeping around 11-12 at night you got your 8 hours by 8 o 'clock if you've also slept at 12 you've got your 8 hours more than that you're lethargic after that your quality sleep happens in that 7-8 hours of your thing and then you're very active after that you wake up have your breakfast and then i would go to the gym just some light cycling for five ten minutes do my stretches mobility workout for 10-15 minutes again opening up the body nicely and then just some activation work with my strength and conditioning trainers where i am just not lifting heavy but just doing some uh light workers two three reps two three reps just so that my muscles are active and then i have uh and then my body is feeling like really good and then uh by 10 i am free from that from breakfast everything breakfast warm-up opening snc yeah all right by 10 10 30 i am free and then probably if I feel that I need another hour or so of a nap that I think I have 7 hours and then my fitness tracker is saying that your recovery is a little probably 45 minutes to an hour nap again and then be active the whole day and then in between speak to your coach about what are your tactics and then that too again 10-15 minutes it's more than enough I feel to discuss the match and everything and then you have your lunch depending on the time you're playing it's if it's a 5pm match you have your lunch by 2.33 you start getting ready for I listen to music concert music depending like Punjabi music and then who's listening to Punjabi music?

36:35Give me two three music which artist you listen to? It keeps changing I mean I love Arjit Singh a lot of his songs as well when I'm like if I'm already feeling a little tension to calm myself down a little Arjit Singh types of songs Arjit Singh song on the winter day and then what will it be that you are listening to sad songs not sad Arjeet Singh and then a lot of these Punjabi music Karan Ojla or Bachcha and all those songs and then some also at times techno songs where the beat you want to feel that I also listen to Arjeet Singh i listen to sad songs on happy days i don't know second year okay so then all these songs you listen to yeah getting ready and then i reached the stadium probably in one and a half hours before start doing my physio related stuff like again just before the match just some back mobs ankle mobs just opening up the hip uh uh again before the match so that takes around again 20 minutes of physio work uh and then so the process of warm-up starts then like one and a half hours before where i'm also strapping my ankles jahan baby taping is required before the match and then and hour before i start with again some light jogs warm up little bit of mobility activation work 15-20 minutes then some concentration work with the ball where i'm again just activating certain parts of the brain i'm alert i'm not and then again my meals keep happening before that a fruit or a banana just to and then the hydration part all keeps happening just half an hour before the match i go onto the court knock a bit and then in that knocking then you just 10 minutes before the match you try and hit those heart rates that you are actually moving 100 % on court.

39:17You are there and then you are there and then you go there and then the process starts one minute and a half hour before the match starts and then this is a process full day if I have to say you have to plan the day also as you plan for the match so a day before you also have to plan that you are doing what you are doing to get into that shape get into that zone when you are in the court so that is when you get a good start in the match and mentally what are you thinking like you said that you plan that what I'll do step by step that is one second is then you said that I'll go at that level I'll do mobility I'll listen to 10-20 minutes you're thinking about strategizing the game everything you're doing before the game right what's the thought in your brain right before you start it's like that I'm doing and whatever activities concentration or just in that you're fully present that in the back of your head something is playing about the game maybe game visualize or maybe something else yes as I said a day before or the day when I'm playing I also sit with the coach or just myself watch my opponent play for 10-15 minutes highlights 1 day before 1 day before and if because we play everyday if there is time then just first round before so a day before you see the match a night before what is playing the opponent and recently what all things to look out that this is happening and also depending on the stadium how is it how is it how is it how is it if it's a drift situation you can't play so much you have to play accordingly to the drift but if it's a big stadium and then you open explain drift I don't play so I don't understand so there is there is ACs blowers and then at times you are playing with the drift where the wind is coming you are against and then you are against so always it's a good thing to be against the drift because you are playing if you have more force in a shot it will take a little bit and then with the wind what will happen is that the shuttle will move more because this is what you are doing so the shuttle will be difficult to smash or to play your shots freely and if you have a little force you are with the wind you will go out so in this way people see how you are starting on which side you are starting so if you let's say for a three setter match if you are playing you are starting on a disadvantage side so and then you lose the first set you go on to the other set with advantage you win that set third set you start on a disadvantage side but you end on a good side where you are against the window so that's a strategy and then obviously that depends on the toss that you are winning or winning that side you can choose and you go with a mindset that you start from the first set and you try and get a good rhythm of the match you feel you will come and then second set you start really good and then you put it under pressure because also when you start from a bad end you are not playing your natural game and then second side if you don't start well then there is a little pressure you will come to the first set and then second set second set advantage side and then there is a lot of pressure and already one set and then there is so there are both the sides to it and then at times you try and play to a different kind of game style if you are with the wind then you try and attack more because you don't have control so much better and then you try and finish the rallies faster because you don't have control and then against the wind you can control the shuttle much easier nice and then the shuttle is falling just close to the line and then if shuttle is running back he can't really do much and if you are getting him into the rallies chances are that his mistakes will increase because he is somewhere uncomfortable with the shuttle that he doesn't get the connection but again also depending on AC is how fast it is like I said Estora and all these places which are hot, humid 40-45 degrees outside so they have to maintain it around 23 degrees inside the stadium 20 to 23 degrees so to bring that much, how much AC they need to put in with so many people coming into a closed stadium with humidity and everything and then again if you're playing in Europe cold conditions, outside if it's hardly if it's 15 20 degree blower then at that time the shuttles are moving perfectly fine, a little side probably drift that's why places like all England and all these places are like dead slow because there is no wind inside the stadium so it's just the rallies keep on going very long and then if you play in Asia the game is much more faster there is wind from both the sides at times, it's a little bit of drift so if you have to play a little bit of margin if you want to play in this line if you want to lift from here a straight lift so you will hit it a little so that the shuttle will come in and just play to the center don't go for the line interesting and you like to play where do you like to start from disadvantage or advantage what's your personal preference again depending on what kind of opponent I am playing so if it's for me I like to start on a good end advantage advantage advantage side I get into a good rhythm and then second set I continue playing those but obviously you don't win the toss every time obviously they choose the end and then you have to play accordingly but whenever I get chances again also depending on the opponent how it's a defensive opponent and you're confident about your attack that you're disadvantaged side because also in your smashes the shuttle will travel a little bit faster so you're a little punch so if you want to play attacking game style against certain opponents you'll choose disadvantage side and then try and manage it so that if you somehow if you take the first set second set it's like you can play your game for me personally controlling game i love playing the game where i can just live rally play the half matches build for my chances to play but and then i i can do it on the other end also if i'm confident again certain opponent that I am confident that I will get my game.

47:43But again, it's very personal on days. But I have always somehow preferred on the advantage side to start with so that I start the game 1-0. Nice. And you said that one night before or maybe on that same day how do you see the opponent 10 minutes? how does he play? What do you notice about the opponent? Some of the shots that I have to be ready, like to be very very on like points because we if I go a lot of deep, I think that doesn't mean that much better just before the match I'm sitting all over a minute, so just 10-15 minutes off because we also play same opponents every time so we know that these guys play like this is the game style he's an attacking player so when he jumps from four ends he's attacking the side he's attacking the side he's hitting many times so then I can leave this side if I'm getting stuck and I lift it there so this will come from good stroke and then I have to be ready for that so then he'll keep that strong point so see for his strong points and also the weaknesses is ki which side if I attack to where is weak and where I can create more chances to create weak return those small small things even the coach sees the match differently and then he comes to brief even my dad he travels for tournaments so he overtime and we also see them live if our match is going to be the same tournament we know that we we are going to play from college coaches also watch matches they keep reading players so that game style how are you going to play and again know your strength that you have to get this stroke so you can use more and at times people also read you that you have to get this stroke so that you have to start wearing it when you get the chance you have to play so all these things small small things so you are playing chess at the same time yeah you are thinking about so many things that you are hitting 10 shots on this side so this is very strong I will hit 10 shots but I will do it like this so maybe I will try to do this like always you are just planning this this is 10-15 minutes and again

50:21certain opponents you are prepared because you keep playing them often so when you come back after a tournament you see that then you do that analyzation with different types you do that like you played a match that if I am losing points on my forehand defense so what is going wrong when I am going to lift my lift shot or then my footwork doesn't work well then those areas you try and improve by seeing those matches if I lift my backhand straight then it's right but in cross it's short it's short or length then you come back and you practice on all those things the next 2-3 weeks until you play the next tournament you know there's have you do you know about napoleon napoleon okay so this napoleon so he was one of the most brutal ones and why didn't he die because

52:08that he says It helps him that he saw how he can die and didn't think he would win. He would see how he could kill me. And he saw how he could kill his army in front of the face. So he was prepared and that's why he used to win. And he will visualize this almost in every fight before he enters with his entire army and everybody. Do you do that? you would see yourself losing

52:44like Michael Phelps used to do the same thing like he would see himself losing and then he would hate it so obviously he never lost yes I think the visualization I think it can help both ways so the last example that I have from this last All England that I played against Shiyuki, the first round against the World Championship, and the first round in All England. So, before that, because I played him, I had beaten him once, the first time that we played, but the last three, four times, he had won. He didn't win. He won. And then the last time, World Championship, when I played him, so I saw the match I also saw it with my mental trainer was there so he told me that when I was 19 all second set I saw both body language he played as if he's a world champion and he'll get it somehow he'll get it but for you you were a bit tense that I have to take more points or you have to take a point and you were a little bit not clear what you have to do at that time okay you've got it to a certain stage there's no pressure there's no pressure if you also listen to the score that the game is going to be finished in one two points then you play a little differently and then the whole match you didn't play like that your body language suddenly changed at that time and I saw the match I was like yes I mean even mentally I was a little bit unsure he might and then lot of thoughts started coming in if I do this then he won't do this then at times also you don't have to overthink just play what will happen and then I had like that I had lost 2-3 times to him before that so the head head to head would be like 4-1 and then I'm playing him again in the All England so we are there 3 days before the tournament so he said let's do visualization today but let's see you lose today see yourself lose both the sets coming close but losing eventually just losing and take the fear out of your head okay now you've lost then what?

55:20nothing you cannot do anything at least your last few points your but try and play those last few points whether it's that what's the one who lost it don't take that pressure that I'm three times four times now how do I crack this guy in close situations and so he said let's do it two three then let's just try and visualize yourself coming close and losing and take the fear out of your head and you and because we were also training in the same stadium so just see yourself in that stadium only first round you know it's against the world number one center court match also visualize see yourself playing in the same and then just losing so I did that and the first two days I was like shit I'm not liking this but okay you are doing and then then the third day he was like now just before the match just see yourself playing well and especially close points just winning those rallies winning those rallies and then eventually winning the match just one day on the same day when I am going to play the match just see yourself winning the last time you see before getting on but already I had in my mind three four times lost to him uh...

56:47just to take the fear out of yourself that I have now I have now I have now I have now and if it comes to close the stage then it's okay I still play the same way uh... like I have first point or uh... or I don't start overthinking the situation that I have now what will happen three or four times I have now and I don't have now like I hate losing to this guy or like that So I think that eventually helped where after the match,

57:21even I was not thinking about the celebration also. I was just forgetting that I want to get the next point. And that thing helped me in the match. And then I could beat him in the first round. Even first set, that was also. I was leading 20 something. And then he came up, he made it dues. So at that time I would have again panicked here. So I was like okay what happened? First set will come, second set will come, third set will come. I'm here to play. I don't want to go before him. I mean he will play today. Today he will play and see who wins. Last man I'm ready to give my all out. I'm ready to give my all out.

58:08If I'm going to rally in that time, I'll go. If I'm not going to rally, I'll go. if that's it that thought process had to change a little against certain opponents and it helped and the story you said I think also relates and definitely it helps and you won it? yes, that match in Jita first round 21-17 third game Jita 1 hour 20 minutes we played brutal game brutal game so That's a winning line fever. You have heard it? That in 1919, people's body is physically stiff. Like subconsciously, consciously plays. I don't know what your coach pointed out. It's stiff and then you don't know if you're playing normally, but you lose.

59:02And usually in winning line fever, the person is a disadvantage. which goes to win because you are 19 and he is 15 and he has taken 2-3 points so the rush is your rush is that shit, I have to save you you are playing under stress and anxiety that if you have 1-2 points I will kill you and that feeling that dopamine treats you that I will win now I will take 4 points and 2 more will get more. So, winning line fever is the advantage of the advantage. It's more than the chances of winning. Majority times. So, that's what was happening with you. And at that time, people tend to rush. Again, take your time.

59:47Just think about the game. Because always what happens now? If I will win, what will it happen? All of those thoughts are coming. So, you have to and it's very natural. It comes to everyone. Just know that they will come. We have to keep it aside. Think about the rally. you think about the match and then you play you also might lose you also but you are giving yourself a better chance if you are playing without anxiety and pressure in that situation but it was very difficult to keep it so I was reading a book which I read about winning line fever and in that it was that both players are equally good both skill top class until but what not people see is that when it is in the world, it is the same thing but it is the advantage of one player and disadvantage because one player is in the mind that I am going to throw away and one player is in the mind that the moral has collapsed lapsed that he said, what will I do?

1:00:55I was winning two points and you're playing for Bachalu and he's playing for killing it. He came and he came and he didn't have pressure. And usually he wins. So losing helps. Like watching yourself lose really really helps. Do you feel bad that when you are playing and India's cricket team also playing obviously nobody is talking about you. Do you feel bad at that time? not really I mean that that is the legacy that cricket has created over the years and I mean other sport can learn from it definitely and I mean I think with every sport even on like a normal day when other badminton fans will see so much you can't say that why you see them why you see them, why you see them I think that is the sport has done so well in the country that deserves a lot of praise and support as well and I feel also the other sport support, see and but again, what cricket has done over the years it's a, I feel I should learn from other sports is how players better market or a lot of other things that create a better environment like a better sporting nation there's a term American team owner he said the team was that he said they were talking about underrated sports in America that we had to market we could make a world class all that conversation was going on and he said unfortunately it doesn't work like that what it works like starting 2-3 players in a sport who are fighting without money and do something and do something and they have to be able to get their country on the world level and it becomes very hard for them either they get appreciation for them or they get money or they get them maybe they have to back them or they have to take them but once they do it the country comes together and then the country comes for them so what probably let's say in a couple of years that India is not crazy It's crazy.

1:03:40But he's made a great place in 83. In every sport, it's like if you have 2-3 people will win. So you have a lot of... Like you have big things on your shoulder. The moment... Like you saw, right? PB, Sindhu, Saini Nawal who won the world level, all of a sudden, Pat Minden's great place. Now when you win Olympics, people are going to watch every match of yours. And then the next player I think that's how it will work. It will take some time but starting with heavy lifting. Yeah. To do. And in every sport. And I think in that sense, badminton has been a big thing over the last 10-15 years. The people who play, who are taking sports.