Paddy Upton

The Indian men's hockey team is set to receive valuable assistance from mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy and Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. Hockey India has responded to the coaching staff's request for support in building the mental toughness of the players by bringing in South African expert Paddy Upton to closely work with the team ahead of these crucial competitions.

Paddy Upton, mental conditioning coach and former member of India's support staff, praises Team India's performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He credits their success to excellent preparation, skills, team culture, and confidence. Upton also highlights the differences between the 2011 World Cup-winning team and the current squad, particularly the presence of an all-Indian coaching staff led by Rahul Dravid.

Rajasthan Royals head coach Paddy Upton feels the inability to pick the right combination is the reason for his side's below-par performance this season.

South African Paddy Upton is known more as a mental conditioning coach than a cricketing one. He was a key member of the support staff when Team India won the World Cup in 2011.

Hockey India wants Paddy Upton to develop in the men's team players an unshakable resolve and toughness that does not crumble under pressure -- the very traits that made Mahendra Singh's side a world beater in 2011. Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh said if the celebrated South African mental conditioning coach can make a difference to the Indian men's team's performance, he could be asked to work till 2024 Olympics.

The Greg Chappell era had just ended when Kirsten and Upton took charge of the Indian team. Upton said there was some amount of shakiness within the side, so Kirsten asked each player individually what he expected from the coach. "Sachin Tendulkar perhaps articulated everyone's thought when he said 'I want you to be my friend'."

D Gukesh, an 18-year-old Indian, won the world chess championship. He is the youngest player to achieve this feat. Gukesh's mental conditioning coach, Paddy Upton, played a key role in his victory. Upton helped Gukesh manage the pressure of the tournament. Upton has worked with other successful athletes. Gukesh's mental strength helped him stay focused throughout the competition.

Renowned mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton is "excited and privileged" to rejoin the Indian team for a short-term contract ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

Former Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga has joined Rajasthan Royals as their fast-bowling coach for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, which starts here on March 26. Malinga, who took 546 wickets in 340 matches across three formats for Sri Lanka.

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli discussed the significant impact of South African coach Paddy Upton on his career, highlighting the unique insights he gained from his career as a sports psychologist. In a conversation with Star Sports, Kohli acknowledged Upton's perspective, stating that a person who has played knows the margins of the game, including the accuracy of a runout or catch. This understanding has helped him navigate the challenges of his cricketing journey.

Former India mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton on Friday implored sports bodies across the globe, including the BCCI, to conduct extensive studies and prevent athletes from developing mental illnesses due to extended stay in bio-secure bubbles. Upton said sports' governing bodies are not doing enough research to address the issue.

Upton, who has also been the Rajasthan Royals coach, recently came up with his autobiography named 'Barefoot Coach' in which he wrote about an infamous incident that happened in the franchise dressing room back in 2013. The 51-year-old said that Sreesanth had a massive outburst after being axed from the game against Chennai Super Kings in the sixth IPL edition. He said that Sreesanth abused him and Rahul Dravid for dropping him from the XI.

Paddy Upton, the mental conditioning coach, emphasizes that the core principles of his role remain consistent across sports, focusing on understanding the game's demands and its players. Currently working with the Indian men's hockey team, he draws parallels between hockey and cricket, highlighting the importance of focus and managing distractions.

Paddy Upton's vast reservoir of knowledge will be an immensely useful "resource" at a time when mental health of cricketers is becoming paramount in a choc-a-bloc international cricket calendar, feels India head coach Rahul Dravid.

The Indian men's hockey team will be mentally better prepared for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) and Asian Games with mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton in the ranks, said the new Chief Coach Craig Fulton.

Gary Kirsten revealed Yuvraj Singh's selection for the 2011 World Cup team wasn't guaranteed, with Kirsten and MS Dhoni advocating for his inclusion due to his experience. Despite a quiet 2010, Yuvraj delivered a stellar performance, scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets. His crucial contributions helped India win the tournament, earning him the Player of the Tournament award.

The Indian men's hockey team is shifting its philosophy to focus on improving defense under new head coach Craig Fulton. Fulton believes that a strong defense and counter-attack strategy will lead to success. He is also prioritizing the mental side of the game and has enlisted the help of former Indian cricket team mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton. Fulton's goal is for India to become the number one team in Asia by winning the Asian Games and qualify for the Paris Olympics.

"We had lost 2 wickets. Dhoni always waits inside the dressing room before going to bat. But all of a sudden, he signalled that he was the next to bat. Gary simply nodded his approval. And I smiled. Cometh the hour, cometh the man...," sais Paddy Upton, the team's mental conditioning coach at that time.

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It was a really emotional moment for me to win the World Championship trophy. My chess journey has been one of many ups and downs, but that has also allowed me to learn so much, says Gukesh.