Mumbai: Badminton legend Prakash Padukone says that in order to improve on the mental aspect, which he feels will play a vital role in clinching the gold at 2016 Rio Olympics, top shuttlers Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu should engage the services of a sports psychologist at the earliest.
"I think Olympics is a test of mental character. Whoever is mentally strong will probably win the gold, not just in women's singles but in any sport. Olympics is a different ball game. You can win all the other tournaments, but if you are mentally not strong you can never win the Olympics," said Prakash.
"It's important that you prepare well mentally. I would advise Sindhu and Saina to focus a little more on the mental aspect and, if required, take the help of some sports psychologist, if they feel comfortable. But they should start right now because one month or so (before the Games) won't help. It would need six to eight months.
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"If I was in their place I would probably take the help of a sports psychologist as all other aspects like specialist trainer, physio and coach are being taken care of. Some people believe, some don't that it might help. I believe so. Ultimately, Olympics is a test of character.
"It does not matter how well you perform the week before or the week after, (but) you have to make sure you reach the peak during the week when the badminton event is happening. It's extremely difficult to predict who will win. The difference is so little at that level. Whoever is strong mentally will win the title," the 1980 All-England men's single champion emphasised.
Prakash is wary of predicting who, from among the Indian shuttlers, can finish on the podium at the Rio Games, but feels 2012 London Games bronze winner Saina and two-time World Championship bronze medal winner Sindhu have a better chance, having beaten all other top shuttlers at one time or the other.
Looking back at 2015 which is drawing to a close, Prakash sounded generally happy with the display put up by all the men and women in singles, though he added that with better planning results could have been better.
"It's been a satisfying year. I don't think one can complain. Still it could have been a little bit better, (though) that's being a little greedy. Overall they played well.
"Some of the players, especially men, could have been probably a little bit more consistent. They had good victories followed by bad losses which could have been reduced. In that sense things could have been better.
"But on the whole, it was a satisfying year, especially in both men's and women's singles. Women - 2 in top ten - Sindhu would be around that. Men - 6 in top 50 – which is a good achievement, but they should not be satisfied and look to better it in the new year."
While praising world no 2 Saina's overall display during the year when she became the first from the country to become the world no 1, Prakash said with better planning she could have won the All England and World Championship titles, instead of finishing second-best to Spain's Carolina Marin.
"I think she has done better than before, reached the All England final for the first time and got silver in the World Championship for the first time. But I still feel she is capable of doing better. "She's capable of winning the big tournaments if she can plan her tournaments and focus a little more on the bigger events and prepare for them properly, by not worrying too much about her ranking. That will be the icing on the cake.
"She has already done well being the world no 1 for a fairly long time - for the first time. Can't complain, but considering her potential she could have done better. That's my reading on Saina.
"We have a good chance, specially in the ladies singles. The top two - Saina and Sindhu - have beaten all the top players at one time or the other. It may not be necessarily in the same tournament; that should happen now," said the Bengaluru-based Prakash whose academy is into its 21st year of existence now.
"Of course, it won't be easy as everyone will be trying to peak during that period. It will be a draw of 32 and a lot would depend on the draw too," added the 60-year-old badminton great.
While not ruling out the chances of men, including senior shuttler Parupalli Kashyap who reached the quarterfinals in London, the former great said that the first priority for them was to qualify for the Rio Games, unlike Saina and Sindhu.
"They have the potential, but whether it happens will depend on them remaining injury-free, trying to reach the peak during that period and having a lot of self-belief. In men's singles, compared to women's, it's a little tougher as they have not beaten all the players.
"It does not mean they don't have a chance, but it will be tough. This is (also) the best chance we have. Initially for men, at least, the key for them would be to make sure they qualify before the April 30 cut-off. May be one or two may qualify. For women that issue is not there. For men, it's still open.
