TOKYO: Athletes at the Tokyo Games are chasing Olympic glory in tremendously strained conditions that have kept them isolated from family, friends and, importantly, spectators as they battle for what could be the biggest titles of their careers.
In badminton, players are resorting to yelling, meditation, or laser-like focus whatever it takes to help them cope with the stress of expectation and no fans to fire them up.
While the top names in badminton haven't openly discussed mental health and wellbeing issues in the way that gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka have done of late, Olympic expectations nonetheless weigh heavily on some.
"Today, at the very beginning, I found it hard to breathe so I shouted out a lot to get the air in," Japan's Nozomi Okuhara, badminton women's singles world number three, said on Wednesday after she made quick work of Canada's Michelle Li in a tidy 21-9, 21-7 match.
Okuhara got of to a rocky start against Germany's Yvonne Li last week in her first Olympic match without a crowd. Though Okuhara prevailed, beating Li 21-17, 21-4, she cried afterwards, saying she "felt some difficulty and was suddenly scared and emotional."
"I couldn't control my feelings at the beginning of the game and that's why I lost some points," Okuhara said. "This is not a normal competition, the Olympics is really special - I need to keep encouraging myself to have a strong mind."
Performance anxiety had a hand in costing men's singles world number one Japan's Kento Momota his Olympic dream on Wednesday, when he was knocked out by a player ranked 37 spots below him.
"I didn't think I was moving wrong or weak or anything," Momota said afterwards. "After the opponent reached 11 points I couldn't recover, I couldn't motivate myself."
'JUST MEDITATE'
Personal struggles during the pandemic have also had some bearing on athletes' mental states. Momota, for instance, and Denmark's Viktor Axelsen both contracted COVID-19 prior to the Games.
"It's always there, the pressure, the responsibilities - a lot of people are expecting a lot from me," India's PV Sindhu told Reuters.
The Rio silver medalist, who was swamped by reporters at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza venue for the Tokyo tournament, is celebrated in badminton-mad India as the country's best chance of medal success.
"We see a lot of things happening on social media and sometimes I just want to let go of everything - I just meditate for a bit," he said.
"I've been doing this for a very long time and it helps keep me going and keeps me calm."
For some, coping with stress is about staying laser-focused.
"We don't think too much about who we're facing," Malaysia's Aaron Chia said after he and men's doubles partner Soh Wooi Yik scored a major upset on Thursday, knocking out world ranking leaders Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo from Indonesia.
"The more we can focus on ourselves, the more we can perform well."
Reuters
Thu Jul 29 2021
![Olympics: Badminton - 'A strong mind': India's Sindhu, Japan's Okuhara look inwards to keep mentally fit Olympics: Badminton - 'A strong mind': India's Sindhu, Japan's Okuhara look inwards to keep mentally fit](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/51627542100_TOKYO.jpg)
P.V. Sindhu of India in action during the match against Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark, Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Badminton - Women's Singles - Last 16, Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2021. - REUTERS
![Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721021538_TBSHAMSUL.jpg)
Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia
Rang Undang-Undang Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia 2024 yang bertujuan menubuhkan MCBA diluluskan persidangan Dewan Rakyat, hari ini.
![PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024 PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710922383_MasErmieyatiSamsud.jpg)
PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024
Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) akan memulakan prosiding bagi empat isu yang dibangkitkan dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (LKAN) Siri 2/2024.
AWANI Ringkas: Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini | Skandal LCS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Chong Zhemin, tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.
[TERKINI] Astro dipilih sebagai penyiar rasmi Olimpik Paris 2024
Astro dipilih sebagai penyiar rasmi bagi Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 bermula hujung bulan ini.
[TERKINI] Speaker DUN Melaka tunggu surat rasmi Muhammad Jailani
DUN Melaka masih menunggu surat rasmi daripada Pas berhubung tindakan ADUN Rembia, Datuk Muhamad Jailani Khamis yang menyertai Pas.
Sasar sumbang RM500 bilion kepada kdnk tempoh tiga tahun
Selangor perlu merancakkan semula kapasiti pembuatan untuk tidak hanya memenuhi keperluan tempatan, tetapi menjadikan negeri itu sebagai asas kepada pelan peluasan ke rantau Asia Tenggara dan Asia.
![Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720789446_Wanitadihempapkay.jpg)
Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri
Wanita yang nyaris maut akibat dihempap kayu balak dalam kejadian di lampu isyarat di Persimpangan Bendahara, Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai di sini 9 Julai lepas, kini dilaporkan mula sedarkan diri.
Sah suspek anggota polis
Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan mengesahkan suspek bunuh Nur Farah Kartini, ialah anggota polis.
Suspek juga yang dipercayai teman lelaki mangsa dan bertugas di Perak.
Suspek juga yang dipercayai teman lelaki mangsa dan bertugas di Perak.
![Syakilla 'berguru' di Amsterdam Syakilla 'berguru' di Amsterdam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-01/81548168241_Syakilla.jpg)
Syakilla 'berguru' di Amsterdam
Selepas menampilkan prestasi mengecewakan pada Sukan Asia 2018, jaguh karate negara, Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan, bakal 'berguru' di Amsterdam selama tiga bulan.