Tokyo olympics bronze

Tokyo Olympics Bronze: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the two-time Olympic bronze medal-winning Indian men’s hockey team took part in a unique chess master class conducted by former international chess player and co-owner Prachura P Padakannaya at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus in Bengaluru.

The session aimed to help players think more clearly and make sharper decisions by drawing parallels from chess to hockey. Prachura emphasised how principles such as planning, anticipation, positioning, and patience can be effectively applied on the hockey field. Using video examples from actual game situations, he demonstrated the importance of foresight, calculated risk, and mental discipline in competitive sport.

During the session, Prachura outlined the three key phases of chess: the opening, middle game, and endgame. He explained that the opening involves making the right moves at the start to establish a solid foundation, much like a hockey team getting off to a good start. The middle game, where the most significant battles occur, was compared to the importance of controlling the midfield in hockey to achieve success in attack. Finally, the endgame, where precision and mental toughness determine the result, was likened to a striker finishing off a move in hockey.