NAGOYA: “Never, never, never give up” — Indian shooter Kynan Chenai’s message to aspiring sports persons after winning mixed team trap gold with Neeru Dhanda at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was a reminder of the role of mental resilience and self-belief in elite sport.
Speaking during an online media interaction after the gold winning performance, the duo emphasised the importance of mindset in pursuing success at major international competitions, including the Asian Games, World Championships and Olympics.
Chenai and Dhanda scored 34 points in the mixed team trap final on Wednesday, setting a new Games record and securing India’s first gold medal in the event. Qatar won silver with 32 points, while China took bronze with 23.
The victory gave Dhanda her third medal at the Games — two golds and a silver. She had earlier won gold in the women’s individual trap and silver in the women’s team event. The mixed team title was Chenai’s first medal at the ongoing Games.
“For me, the attitude of never thinking about losing has clicked,” Dhanda said, explaining how her approach had helped her perform under pressure. “I have been setting my mindset that I am the best in my discipline and it really helped me,” she added.
From a sports-psychology perspective, Dhanda’s comments highlight the value of self-belief and concentration in high-pressure competition. Confidence can help athletes focus on executing their skills rather than becoming preoccupied with the possibility of failure.
Chenai’s call to never give up underscores another essential quality: persistence through setbacks and difficult phases of training and competition. For young athletes seeking to reach the global stage, the pair’s experience points to the importance of combining technical ability and physical preparation with mental resilience, disciplined focus and confidence under pressure.
