Cricket

Paddy Upton appointed as mental health and conditioning coach for the Indian men’s hockey team

Hockey India have announced the arrival of South African mental health conditioning coach Paddy Upton to join the Indian Men’s Hockey team ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games later this year.

Upton, who has predominantly worked in cricket including Indian Premier League outfit Rajasthan Royals has taken up a new challenge in Indian hockey. Mental health is a major aspect and even during former coach Graham Reid’s tenure, the topic was raised a few times as India suffered a very disappointing defeat in the FIH Hockey World Cup that too at home.

However, the governing body has decided to opt for someone as experienced as Upton to work with the players and make them more relaxed during crunch matches.

Federation president Dilip Tirkey also highlighted the importance of Upton’s arrival as he believes that this is essential as they focus on doing well in showpiece events. “To help the team manage the pressure and expectations to perform, we felt that it was essential to invest in a mental conditioning expert.” Tirkey further added, “We recognise that this is a major area that needs focus ahead of big-ticket events and we are confident that Paddy’s expertise and guidance will greatly benefit our team.”

Upton was the mental health and conditioning coach during Gary Kirsten’s tenure with the Indian Men’s cricket team. He was with the Men in Blue from 2008 to 2011 and was also a key part of MS Dhoni’s World Cup winning team in 2011.

He was also a part of the Indian team last year at the 2022 T20 World Cup as they reached the semifinals under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.

Upton is chuffed to be a part of the team that is growing and evolving every day and he feels honoured to be a part of this setup and hopes that he can create a difference with his experience and expertise. “I have witnessed the tremendous growth of Indian hockey in recent years, and I am excited to contribute to the team’s success by enhancing their mental resilience and psychological skill set. Together, we will work towards achieving the highest level of performance and excellence,” he stated.

The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will be aiming at direct qualification to the Paris Olympics by winning gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

About the Author


Written by DafaNews

DafaNews brings you the most highlighted news in the world of Sports. It serves you up-to-date matches, scores, live streams, fantasy games and quizzes. Our news covers India's prestigious leagues and events – Premier League, Pro Kabbadi League, Cricket World Cup and many more. Follow DafaNews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,Telegram and Youtube for more updates.

Related Post
Share
Published by
DafaNews

Recent Posts

“Never expected a very easy run” – Gautam Gambhir reflects on his tenure as coach after IND vs NZ 2024 Test series defeat

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has admitted that he never expected a very easy run… Read More

October 31, 2024

Probably has a lot to do with playing on flat wickets in T20 – Gautam Gambhir on decline of good defensive technique in Test cricket

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir feels T20 cricket has led to the downfall of a… Read More

October 31, 2024

India needs Mumbai Test win before Australia tour – Gautam Gambhir

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir feels the Rohit Sharma-led team desperately needs to win the… Read More

October 31, 2024

I cannot say just the batters have let us down – Gautam Gambhir feels everyone should take responsibility for series loss against New Zealand

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to blame the batters after the team’s 2-0 series… Read More

October 31, 2024

It was insane – Bronny James after scoring his first NBA bucket

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James was on cloud nine after he managed to score… Read More

October 31, 2024

I’m happy with my team’s performance: Mohun Bagan SG head coach Jose Molina after win against Hyderabad FC

Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Jose Molina was delighted with the team’s performance after… Read More

October 31, 2024