UTMB®’s Post

It’s been a while since I have shared my thoughts here, but I feel compelled to reflect on Malaysia’s performance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Despite our hopes for a historic gold medal, we returned with just #two #bronze medals in badminton, leaving many of us feeling disappointed. Here are 3 key takeaways: Need for a Better Selection Process: - With only #26 athletes competing across #11 sports, many were there through wildcards rather than merit. This raises concerns about how we identify and nurture talent. We must do better to ensure our athletes are truly prepared for the global stage. Squash: A Bright Spot for 2028: - As squash makes its Olympic debut in 2028, we have a golden opportunity. Athletes like Sivasangari Subramaniam could lead us to our first #gold. However, we must invest in their training and support to keep our competitive edge. Commitment to Long-Term Development: - Our journey to Olympic success requires a comprehensive strategy. We need to prioritize sports in schools and address systemic issues in sports management to build a strong foundation for future generations. Bukit Jalil Sports School is the only one that we have at the moment. I believe in Malaysia’s potential to shine on the world stage but that's in #2028 through #squash. Here’s to learning from this experience and striving for gold in the future! #Olympics2024

In many Indian schools, students are given just 30 minutes a week for sports. Yet, as a nation, we dream of Olympic golds. How realistic are our ambitions if we don't even give our children enough time to play? Physical education is often treated as a secondary concern, something to be done if there's time after the "important" subjects. But without a strong sports foundation, how can we build Olympic champions? Solutions: 📍Mandatory Daily Sports 📍Government Funding for School Sports 📍Public Awareness Campaigns Japan sets an example where sports are integral to education, leading to a culture of discipline and excellence that fosters world-class athletes. Our Olympic dreams hinge on giving kids the space to play. The journey to gold medals starts in our schools. Do you believe we should prioritize sports in schools? Share your thoughts! #sports #indiakagame #sportseducation #olympicdreams #youthdevelopment

Think about the thrill of watching India on the world stage? Imagine igniting that passion in young hearts, guiding them on a journey where dreams meet dedication, and talent blossoms into accomplishment. Today, we celebrate a collaboration that promises to do just that – The Shri Ram Universal School and Sports Champ join hands to unveil a world of boundless potential for aspiring athletes, with renowned table tennis champion, Bhushan Thakur, leading the charge. But this isn't just about any mentor. Bhushan Thakur's profile boasts more than just accolades: A decorated sportsman: With 32 international representations for India, multiple state titles, and an 8-year stint in the European League, his on-field expertise is unmatched. A seasoned leader: He has served as CEO of Solaris Group, Managing Director of Oxyfim Premium Fitness, and spearheaded projects for the Table Tennis Federation of India and STAG, demonstrating strategic thinking and decisive action. A passionate advocate: His entrepreneurial spirit drives initiatives like Masters Group, Godspin, and Love All Sports Foundation, making a lasting impact on the sports industry and fostering the love for sports in young minds. Imagine the impact of such a mentor on young athletes. They won't just learn the technicalities of the game; they'll imbibe the spirit of dedication, the power of strategic thinking, and the importance of giving back. Sports Champ #TSUSxSportsChamp #EmpoweringChampions #SportsEducationRevolution

Thrilled to share the #22nd edition of the ELMS Sports Foundation's High Performance Newsletter, a treasure trove of insights for #sports #professionals like yourselves. With the #2024 #ParisOlympics just around the corner, this issue delves into the pillars of building a robust high-performance ecosystem that can propel Indian athletes to new heights. In my article, I offer a framework to help you navigate the complex landscape of sports leadership, empowering you to unlock your authentic self while inspiring the next generation of champions. But that's just the start! From strategies to tap into #India's true potential at the Olympics to insights from elite coaches on honing their craft, this newsletter is a masterclass in high-performance sport. And what's more, we're featuring original research from our alumni on skills transfer, shedding light on the intricate factors that contribute to sustained excellence. Whether you're a coach, administrator, or a passionate sports enthusiast, this edition promises to elevate your understanding and appreciation for the art and science of high performance. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a competitive edge and be a part of India's journey towards sporting greatness. Amarjeet Singh Rajaraman G Mamata Prabhu #leadershipcoach #highperformance #upskilling #capacitybuilding #IndianSports

Indian Performance at the Olympics The performance in the summer Olympics is a classic case of inflated expectations fueled by misplaced optimism about India's economic rise. This so-called optimism is built on a shaky foundation of inadequate technique, outdated technology and inapt processes. The current results displayed in the summer Olympics reek of too much self-promotion and self-aggrandizement based on small victories won by athletes without realistically benchmarking them against High Performance statistics on the world stage. Bravado neither wins in the battle field nor does it win gold medals in the fields of play, this requires synchronisation of strategy, operational art with ground level tactics.  While the data is available in open sources, realistic assessments of current performance standards and performance gaps are lacking. Moreover, since the Olympic Games occur only once every four years, we often witness a short sighted approach to crisis management, where long term planning is forsaken for immediate gains. A case in point is Indian archery, which is currently under the spotlight of criticism. The real question is, why wasn’t bench strength prepared to ensure that India produced more athletes who could perform consistently and under pressure? If anyone has witnessed the training of elite special forces, they would understand the need to select individuals who can sustain the highest amount of pressure through a ruthless process of weeding out, as the stakes are of life and death. We need to approach High Performance sports with the same spirit as the special forces does, where coming second or being a runners up is not an option, as it could mean losing life or limb, moreover national prestige is at stake in both the cases. I am also aghast at the casualness displayed by some federations in their preparations and post match analysis. Blaming weather and other factors while brushing off results is unacceptable, especially when the same conditions affected the winners, who triumphed despite adverse conditions. In addition being in a celebratory mode with three bronze medals is also not enough, despite their best efforts the bitter pill is that a bronze medallist is not a winner, he/she is the third best. The question that needs to be asked is why, despite fielding our best and highest number of athletes in shooting, we could only manage bronze medals. Are lessons being learned? Is someone recording these insights in a repository for posterity? Are we achieving self reliance in coaching? Have our federations become free of political machinations and are they completely merit based? These pressing questions must be answered if we ever hope to rise above mediocrity.   My two Bit

Keys to Skill Transfer in High-Performance Sports: As #sportsleaders, we often focus on training intensity and technical skills. But what truly separates #champions from contenders? It's the ability to transfer those skills from practice to high-pressure competitive environments. A recent #alumni study highlighted in our #LearnWithELMS reveals fascinating insights on maximizing skill transfer for athletes: 👉 Opportunity is everything: Without chances to apply new skills, transfer is significantly hindered. Are we creating enough competitive simulations? 👉 Environment matters: The training setting heavily influences skill application. How can we make our facilities more competition-like? 👉 Novices prioritize environment over coaching: Interesting finding! This emphasizes the need for immersive, realistic training scenarios. So how can we, as sports leaders, facilitate better skill transfer? 👉 Invest in high-tech facilities: VR/AR for scenario practice, advanced video analysis tools 👉 Foster a supportive team culture: Encourage peer learning and effective conflict resolution 👉 Increase competitive exposure: Regular tournaments, pressure-simulating drills 👉 Prioritize psychological safety: Promote a growth mindset, provide mental health support. The path to creating world-class #athletes isn't just about physical training—it's about building an ecosystem that seamlessly bridges practice and performance. Ready to level up your leadership skills and drive Indian sports to new heights? Join us for the 6th edition of the High Performance Leadership Program! Dive deep into critical areas like talent ID, strategy implementation, and leveraging sports science. Don't miss this chance to transform your approach to high-performance sports management. Your athletes—and our nation's sporting future—will thank you. 🔗 Apply now: https://bit.ly/HPLP6APPLY 🌐 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/djiEh2Qr #SportsLeadership #HighPerformance #SkillTransfer #IndianSports #leadershipcoach

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 ? India participated in just 16 out of the 32 sports events at the Paris Olympics'24. While infrastructure and government policies are often cited as reasons for our poor Olympic performance, I believe the core issue is the lack of early awareness and guidance. For instance, I began following cricket at age 8 but didn’t see an Olympic event until I was 21. It’s remarkable to see a 14-year-old win Olympic gold while I was engrossed in just watching India win the World Cup at that age. I suspect this lack of exposure is a common experience for many in my generation. Our focus tends to be on entrance exams like IITs, NEETs, and UPSC, often overshadowing the importance of sports, despite their significant health benefits. But while we emphasise so much on education, we rank 72nd out of the 73 participating countries in the PISA (which measures the "yield" of education systems). Although trends are slowly changing, they aren’t enough to drive substantial progress. Change needs to start at the grassroots level— the schools. A simple yet impactful idea would be to implement Olympic quizzes in schools, the very next day after the Games. This would encourage students to explore and engage with a range of sports beyond cricket, and inspire them through the achievements of young athletes. Maths teacher entering the classroom during the sports period is yet another problem to be solved! 😅 🙆♂️ #Olympics #SportsInSchools #YouthSports #Education #AthleteDevelopment #India #Inspiration #SportsAwareness #ParisOlympics2024

What can sport teach us about notions of success or motoring through failures? Nandan Kamath writes for the Deccan Herald on Why Sport Matters. In this deeply introspective article, Nandan speaks of the questions he faced in his journey as a spectator to an athlete, and explores the larger question of what sport gives back in finding one-self and building communities. #SportMatters #BoundaryLab #Community #Sport https://lnkd.in/eNz_TxRN

📰The latest edition of our #newsletter is here! 🏅Just over a month from today, 200+ teams will take the stage at the #Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. One of world sports' most ancient and prestigious contests, we will surely be glued to our screens as the tournament unfolds. The Indian contingent and its medal hopefuls too have set their sights on achieving sporting excellence when it matters the most. Sustaining high performance at one of the highest levels of sport is not an overnight task. Reputations can be made and unmade by the margin of a second, obscuring the years of preparation that preceded a contest. In this edition, our writers each examine high performance in sport from a different angle, exploring what it takes to build a robust system that delivers consistent results. 💫Imran Nadaph helps aspiring sports #leaders with a framework to unlock their own potential while nurturing the next generation of champions in Indian sports 🏅Rajaraman G tracks the Indian contingent's preparation for the Olympics, highlighting all that sports governing bodies have been doing to back their athletes 🏆Col. Kumar Anupam zeroes in on key factors and strategies that can help India tap into its true potential, and excel at the Olympics Games for the years to come 🏓Mamata Prabhu takes us into the mind of an elite coach, and shares her insights to help coaches improve their craft 💥We're thrilled to feature original sports #research in an Indian setting! Col. Amarjeet Singh and Capt. Ashwini Trichal evaluated 235 sportspersons from 6 Olympics disciplines of a shooting high-performance centre for their study on skills transfer in sport. We feature some of their conclusions in this edition's Learn With ELMS. P.S. Sports leaders and administrators wanting to sharpen their high-performance skills - applications for the 6th edition of the High Performance Leadership Program will open soon! Watch this space for more. #ELMSSports #highperformance #athletecentric #coachled #systemdriven #alumni #Indiansports #Paris2024 #Olympics

Empowering the next generation starts today. Our Head of Growth and Alliance outlines a bold vision: nurturing 300+ Olympians by 2036 through grassroots programs in our schools. By focusing on early development and comprehensive training, we aim to elevate Indian sports to new heights. This is more than a goal—it's our commitment to the future of Indian athletics. Jagrit Anand P K SAMAL Vaibhav Shastri Bhavna Tandon Prof .Anand Khanna 🏅🇮🇳 #Olympics2036 #SportsEducation #FutureOfIndia"