Behind medals and victories, mental health plays a major role in an athlete’s life and career. Athletes are often praised for their strength and resilience, but many face mental health challenges in silence.Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, Tyson Fury, Serena Williams and Indian stars like PV Sindhu, Virat Kohli And many others are vocal about the mental side of their careers.A 2019 review by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) found that many top male athletes in team sports such as hockey, football, cricket and rugby face mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression. About 45 percent of these athletes reported experiencing such symptoms, indicating that even elite athletes struggle with mental health. The review also found that some male athletes use substances such as painkillers and opioids to manage pain, recover from injuries, or cope with the stress of training and competition.In conversation with Indian men’s singles Orijit Chaliha Badminton A player from Guwahati, Assam, Shuttler shed light on his struggles and why it is important for athletes to prioritize mental health.A former junior India No. 2, Chaliha is now ranked 20th in the senior rankings, with a career-high national rank of 9 and a world ranking of 156.He won his first senior international medal, a silver, at the 2025 Victor Croatian International.He currently resides in Bangalore, where he trains under two-time national men’s singles champion Arvind Bhatt at the Simply Sport Badminton Academy.
Orijit Chaleha won the silver medal at the Victor Croatian International.
Mental health in sports is finally getting the attention it deserves, and more athletes are opening up about their challenges. Orijit believes that this change is helping to normalize the conversation about mental health. “More athletes are talking about their struggles and their journeys, whether on YouTube, Instagramor other platforms. It inspires others to open up,” Orijith told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interaction. “Physical struggle was always highlighted, but mental struggle was considered taboo for a long time. That is changing now.” Asked if he had faced any mental challenges in his career, and how he dealt with them, Orijit spoke about his experiences.Orijit shared that he faced a big mental challenge in 2020, soon after moving from the U-19 circuit to the senior level. The constant routine of daily practice began to feel tiresome and repetitive, and he began to experience burnout.“It got to a point where winning didn’t feel exciting and losing didn’t bother me. I just lost the motivation to play,” he said.At the time, Orijit said he had a hard time dealing with those feelings, especially since many believed that skipping practice could hurt a player’s career.
Orijit Chiliha.
Despite this pressure, he chose to take a break from badminton until he truly felt the urge to return, and he credits his support system with standing by him during this decision. Being away from the game helped him see the bigger picture and reflect on his relationship with the game. “Eventually I made a bold decision to take a break from the game and take myself away from it indefinitely and come back when I felt the urge to play again. I am very fortunate to have a support system that supported this decision.“Being away from the game helped me look at the bigger picture and separate myself from the day-to-day grind and look at things rationally. It was hard for me to do that when I was involved in the whole routine.” he said.After a few months of contemplation, Orijit gradually regained his love for the sport and slowly returned to practice at his own pace, eventually returning with the motivation to compete.“When I returned to full-time training, I carried over the lessons I learned during that break,” he said, explaining that he now focuses on keeping practice both fun and challenging while focusing on his mental well-being and self-confidence.
Orijit Chiliha.
Orijit emphasizes that accepting criticism and failure is key to professional growth. “At some point in your career, you realize that criticism and failure are part of the process of becoming a champion. The better you play, the more people look at your performance—it’s inevitable that some of it will be negative,” he explained.Criticism can also be seen as a privilege, he added. “When people criticize you, it shows you’re making an impact. Failures teach you what to do better, and using that feedback makes you a stronger player,” he said.Asked about increasing mental health support for athletes in India, Orijit said the system is slowly improving.“National centres, especially in badminton, now hire psychologists who travel with players to domestic and international tournaments. A few years ago, this was not visible. Now players can talk to psychologists before and after matches, which is a big step forward,” he said.When asked how players handle the pressure in India as compared to other countries, he said there is a significant difference.“Athletes in Western countries generally take criticism more easily, whereas in India and other Asian countries, players and their support teams are more hard on themselves. It’s tough, but it also helps build resilience,” he said.
Orijit Chiliha.
Orijit emphasized the importance of acceptance and preparation. “Pressure will always be there. It’s important to understand it as normal and find strategies that work for you. Take time off the court to think about situations that make you feel stressed and plan how you will deal with them. Accepting and preparing for pressure helps build resilience,” she said.Asked how to stay motivated during low points, Orijit shared his personal mantra: “There is only one way.”“Whatever challenge comes your way, the only way to overcome it is to go through it. Every situation is a learning opportunity, and facing obstacles makes you stronger and a better player,” he explained.
