The NESPORTS Foundation, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Arunachal (SAA), conducted a Pre-Event Psychological Preparation Session under its flagship Game Ready programme for the Arunachal Pradesh karate contingent at the SAA Conference Hall on Monday. The workshop was organised ahead of the KAI National Karate Championship 2026, scheduled to be held at Hooghly, West Bengal, from 7 to 9 August, 2026.
The session was facilitated by Miss Bindiya Ligu, Sports Psychologist at the NESPORTS Foundation, who introduced athletes to evidence-based mental conditioning techniques designed to enhance focus, resilience, emotional regulation, and competition-day readiness.
Game Ready, the flagship sports science programme of the NESPORTS Foundation, is dedicated to ensuring that athletes are prepared not only physically but also mentally before stepping into competition. The initiative integrates sports psychology, mental conditioning, nutrition guidance, and injury-prevention support, helping athletes from Northeast India access sports science services that are increasingly recognised as essential for high-performance sport.
During the workshop, athletes received practical training in Box Breathing, 4-2-6 Breathing, and Grounding Techniques scientifically proven methods that help reduce stress, regulate emotions, improve concentration, and enhance performance under pressure.
To better understand each athlete’s psychological readiness, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) assessment was administered. The assessment evaluates cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence, enabling sports psychologists to identify individual needs and provide personalised counselling and mental skills interventions.
The interactive session was well received by the athletes, who actively participated in the practical exercises and discussions, gaining valuable tools to manage pre-competition pressure and build confidence ahead of the national championship.
Notably, the Sports Authority of Arunachal and the NESPORTS Foundation have pioneered the region’s first-ever structured pre-event sports psychology workshops, preparing athletes and coaches mentally before they compete at national, zonal, and international championships.
The programme has supported athletes across multiple disciplines, including boxing, wrestling, football, basketball, badminton, athletics, judo, karate, powerlifting, netball, and para-sports, reinforcing the growing importance of sports psychology in athlete development.