LETTERS: The Hangzhou Asian Games revealed one weakness in our athletes and teams: the lack of mental toughness.
We see this in our hockey and badminton teams.
However, we must salute three gold medal winners, especially S. Sivasangari, 24, and the women's squash team who beat strong favourites Hong Kong.
Sivasangari survived a car accident that nearly wrecked her career. She is a role model for our youth.
Equestrian Qabil Ambak, 43, won the dressage gold after his sixth attempt at the games.
Windsurfer Nur Shazrin Abdul Latif, 25, also won gold.
Even two-time Olympic silver and bronze medallist diver Datuk Pandelela Rinong was in tears after ending her 13-year wait for her second individual bronze medal on the 10m platform.
Her passion and persistence are great lessons for our athletes.
We should instil the competitive spirit in our schoolchildren.
For athletes to deliver a gold-medal performance, mental toughness is vital.
Beijing Winter Olympic Games 2022 gold medallist and American figure skater Nathan Chen said: "Sometimes, when you set your mind to do something, even if you don't feel like it, your body will naturally carry on to that feeling."
Our athletes and coaches must be exposed to sports psychology on principles of visualisation and how to bounce back from defeats.
Good examples include Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and F1 British racer Lewis Hamilton.
They too suffered defeats but have bounced back.
C. SATHASIVAM SITHERAVELLU
Seremban, Negri Sembilan
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times