Playwrite Event Shows Mental Strength Beyond the Playing Field

When skier Bhavani Thekkada stood outside a closed airport in Iceland for three hours in temperatures of minus 18 degrees Celsius, she almost quit the sport she loved. Her sister's words of encouragement changed everything.

Thekkada shared this story at Playwrite's ninth edition in Chandigarh, an event that brought together athletes, journalists, and writers to explore how sport shapes mental strength. Her journey began in Coorg, where she grew up never seeing snow, but exposure as an NCC cadet opened doors to skiing.

The financial barriers were steep. A pair of skis costs nearly Rs 2 lakh, so Thekkada competed in her first race with borrowed equipment. Her determination proved that passion can overcome a lack of resources.

Harjinder Singh Jindi, founder of the Indian Ice Hockey Association, discussed the slow but steady growth of winter sports in India. Building awareness for ice hockey and skiing in a country where these sports remain unfamiliar requires patience and persistence.

Para table tennis player Mukesh Kumar offered a powerful insight about competition and everyday life. "When you learn to make multiple decisions per minute under pressure, you become better equipped to handle life's challenges," he said, highlighting how sport strengthens cognitive resilience.

Women in sports journalism faced their own battles. Mona Parthasarathy and veteran journalist Neeru Bhatia shared experiences of working their way up in a male-dominated field. The challenges they overcame ultimately strengthened their professional confidence.

Why This Inspires

The event proved that sport builds more than physical strength. It creates mental resilience that translates directly to handling life's pressures, whether in journalism, competition, or everyday challenges.

Playwrite was created by Vivek Atray, Chitranjan Agarwal, and Hardeep Chandpuri to bridge sport and literature. The gathering also featured discussions around a book by father-son duo Vijay and Akshay Lokapalli, chronicling landmark moments in Indian sporting history from Neeraj Chopra's Olympic gold to lesser-known achievements like Shiva Keshavan's luge career.

Participants agreed that sport serves as a powerful tool to address mental health concerns among young people. By sharing stories from the field and reflections from the page, Playwrite demonstrated how athletic pursuits prepare us for life's toughest moments.