DEC 5 — Mental strength is imperative in competitions. The innate ability to withstand tremendous pressure coupled with the capacity to excel in adverse situations separate champions from the rest.

To help develop our aptitude in this area, we were assigned a mental trainer (God knows if this is the  correct term. That was what we called them, back then). He followed us to tournaments all over  the world. His job was to ensure that the players were mentally prepared for matches.

Throughout my tenure as a player, I have seen at least a dozen trainers. Each had their own  approach. Some were very effective. Some evoked emotions I never knew resided in my body — hatred, anger, homicidal rage. 

In 2001, we were seated in a room at the Concorde Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Our mental trainer ran a  series of activities with us. We were told to talk about our goals and aspirations, sang the national  anthem to further strengthen our affinity with the flag, and a host of other things that basically had  us questioning our existence.

Then all of a sudden, the trainer stood up and scanned the room. He was about to do something  unorthodox.

I knew this because he said: “Boys! I am about to do something unorthodox!”

Logan Raj… Super sleuth…

He called me to the front of the room.

He pulled out a creaky chair and asked me to sit. I complied. He patted me on the head and  said: “Good boy!”

Woof!

He called up another player and sat him down, in a similar chair, right beside me. The trainer then  spewed out these instructions to my teammate.

“I want you to mimic his entire demeanour. Regulate your breathing so it matches his. Feel the  energy emanating from his body and immerse yourself in his experience.

“You will then be able to feel what he is feeling and sometimes, even hear his thoughts!”

I was intrigued. The trainer wasn’t kidding when he said unorthodox. 

My teammate adjusted his posture to match mine. Our breathing was in sync and I could literally  feel the presence of energy filling up the cavity between us.

All of a sudden, my teammate nodded. He looked up to the trainer and requested to say a few  words.

The trainer gave him the go-ahead.

“I really felt a connection with Logan. I could literally feel his experience and in fact I can safely say I  know what is going on in his mind.”

He paused for effect, and then continued:

“He is very disappointed with his game and life. He feels he is not a good player anymore. He is  confused and does not know what to do with his life. He thinks he shouldn’t be in the team.”

I stared at him with jaws agape. What the hell?

Everyone had their eyes on me. “What was on your mind, Logan?” the trainer asked. 

“LUNCH!!!” I replied.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.