Paddy Upton appointed as mental health and conditioning coach for the Indian men’s hockey team

Hockey India have announced the arrival of South African mental health conditioning coach Paddy Upton to join the Indian Men’s Hockey team ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games later this year.

Upton, who has predominantly worked in cricket including Indian Premier League outfit Rajasthan Royals has taken up a new challenge in Indian hockey. Mental health is a major aspect and even during former coach Graham Reid’s tenure, the topic was raised a few times as India suffered a very disappointing defeat in the FIH Hockey World Cup that too at home.

However, the governing body has decided to opt for someone as experienced as Upton to work with the players and make them more relaxed during crunch matches.

Federation president Dilip Tirkey also highlighted the importance of Upton’s arrival as he believes that this is essential as they focus on doing well in showpiece events. “To help the team manage the pressure and expectations to perform, we felt that it was essential to invest in a mental conditioning expert.” Tirkey further added, “We recognise that this is a major area that needs focus ahead of big-ticket events and we are confident that Paddy’s expertise and guidance will greatly benefit our team.”

Upton was the mental health and conditioning coach during Gary Kirsten’s tenure with the Indian Men’s cricket team. He was with the Men in Blue from 2008 to 2011 and was also a key part of MS Dhoni’s World Cup winning team in 2011.

He was also a part of the Indian team last year at the 2022 T20 World Cup as they reached the semifinals under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.

Upton is chuffed to be a part of the team that is growing and evolving every day and he feels honoured to be a part of this setup and hopes that he can create a difference with his experience and expertise. “I have witnessed the tremendous growth of Indian hockey in recent years, and I am excited to contribute to the team’s success by enhancing their mental resilience and psychological skill set. Together, we will work towards achieving the highest level of performance and excellence,” he stated.

The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will be aiming at direct qualification to the Paris Olympics by winning gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.