Last month, at the Mussanah Open Championship in Oman, Nethra Kumanan missed gold in the Laser Radial Class by a point, but along the way, she created history by becoming the first Indian female sailor to qualify for the Olympics. Only 23, Kumanan seems to have a wise head on her shoulders.
Q. How did you manage fitness during the lockdown?
We set up video calls with our coach [Tamas Eszes] and did fitness sessions twice a day—one on the bike and the other in an indoor gym at home.
Q. How important is the mental aspect of sailing? How have you been working on it?
Sailing is about being aware of your environment—the wind, the weather—and the other boats. There is constant decision-making involved. If you don’t have the right attitude and the right focus at each moment, you will make the wrong decisions or not make decisions at all. I have been working with a psychologist from Israel to build self-confidence. It has made a huge difference in being consistent. That’s how I was able to qualify before the medal race.
Q. What does it mean to go to the Olympics?
It will bring attention to the sport. Hopefully, more people will take it up. Going to the Olympics is a dream come true and it’s one more step towards achieving a medal. We will start aiming for a medal at Paris 2024.
Q. What do you do when you need time off from sailing?
Under normal circumstances, I would come home from Spain or travel. This year, we went on bike trips, watched sunsets or just hung out and did fun things. Even studying would help me take my mind off sailing. n
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