Mumbai: For most athletes in India, the pursuit of sporting excellence has traditionally meant an almost single-minded commitment to training and competition. But as careers evolve and the margins between success and “almost” grow thinner, a new trend is emerging among India’s elite — one that blends sport with education, personal development and long-term life planning.
At the heart of this shift are stories like those of Tejaswin Shankar and Maana Patel, two high-profile athletes whose careers took a turn after narrowly missing qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Finding Balance After Near Misses
Tejaswin Shankar, one of India’s top decathletes and high jumpers, described his 2024 season as a turning point. “There’s been only one phase where I’ve left everything and focussed just on sports. That was 2024, and I didn’t make the Olympics that year,” he said, reflecting on the mental strain of singular focus.
Instead of doubling down on athletic training alone, Shankar chose a different path. He moved to the University of Kansas to pursue a Master’s in exercise science, where he now balances academic work with training and serves as a graduate assistant. For Shankar, this blend provides a healthy distraction from constant athletic pressure and helps sharpen his performance in focused sessions.
Maana Patel, India’s lone female swimmer at the Tokyo Olympics, took a similar approach. After missing Olympic qualification again in 2024, Patel asked herself: “What will my life be after sport?”
Rather than doubling down solely on the pool, she enrolled at the University of Bath, completing an MSc in Sport Management while competing as a student-athlete. Today she works in the development department at World Aquatics, the sport’s global governing body.
Beyond the Pool and the Track
Their decisions are part of a broader trend among Indian athletes who are discovering that life beyond rigorous training can offer mental recovery, fresh perspectives and professional certainty.
For some, exploring other interests is more than a backup plan — it’s a needed refuge from the relentless pressure that comes with striving for international success.
Shooter Arjun Babuta, for example, took up photography and resumed learning the tabla after finishing fourth at the Paris Olympics, suggesting that personal growth and balance can coexist with elite performance. “Life must have balance,” he said.
Similarly, Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist in shooting, began online violin lessons before the 2024 Games, highlighting how “not being confined to sport” helped her navigate highs and lows of elite competition.
A Cultural Shift in Athlete Preparation
Outside India, the concept of combining academics with sport — such as student-athlete models in the United States or Europe — is common and often encouraged. Maana Patel pointed out that this system helps athletes “switch off” and stay mentally refreshed, something she struggled with when her focus was solely on intensive training.
Shankar’s experience echoes this sentiment. After a subdued competitive period, he recognised that having an “activity outside sport” helped him give his best during training sessions and reduced overthinking.
This balance not only enriches athletes’ lives today but also prepares them for life after sport. As both Shankar and Patel illustrate, planning a second career while still active isn’t a compromise — it’s a strategic investment in long-term growth.
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