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Through Triumphs and Setbacks – Grounded delves into elite athletes’ minds

May 29, 2024
Boria Majumdar
Grounded, the series that speaks about the athletes’ journeys and more

What is sport without the winning mantra? For example, how is it that Mitchell Starc produces that peach against Abhishek Sharma in a final, and does so time and again across formats? How is it that Australia inevitably finds something special when it comes to ICC tournaments? How come Neeraj Chopra has not really lost in a competition that matters since winning the all-important Olympic gold medal in Tokyo? How does Mirabai Chanu finds the resolve to come back from a serious injury and be ready to mount a challenge for a second consecutive Olympic medal in Paris? 

These are questions we have debated for hours. Tried to find answers and dug deeper. For more than anything, these are life lessons. Where does PR Sreejesh find the zeal to push the bar to be the best even when he has touched 40? 

While mostly these are studio and living-room debates, how about taking these questions to athletes and getting some answers? Why not speak to them at length and understand their minds a little bit better? Decode the winning mantra, and seek a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t? Also understand how to deal with losses, for each of these men and women have lost more than they have won. And each setback has got them closer to success and made them winners. 

 

Once decided, we started speaking to athletes and asking for their time. Truth be told, a lot of them were keen to speak soon after we had revealed the subject to them. They wanted to open up, and that’s what makes this show special. Gargi Raut travelled to all parts of the country – from Patiala to Bengaluru, and Lucknow to Kolkata, to record these conversations, and here we are with a brand new show. Wonderfully produced by Trisha Ghosal and edited by Arka Rudra, I have real pride in presenting Grounded with Gargi Raut on all RevSportz platforms. 

I watched a few of the episodes, and felt enriched. These are experiences that leave a mark. And, may I say, Gargi has done a very good job of stitching it all together. With the Olympics and Paralympics just over 50 days away, the show couldn’t be better timed. May is the month for mental health awareness, and we take immense pride in showcasing our new show to you all. Enjoy the discussions, and more importantly, engage with the life lessons that are being discussed. Trust me when I say that these issues impact us all. 

Watch at 12 noon every Thursday, on all RevSportz platforms.