MUMBAI: Paddy Upton described a scenario he played "over a hundred times" in his head as he flew from South Africa to Singapore. In it, he would meet Gukesh Dommaraju shortly after the Indian Grandmaster won the World Chess Championship title. They would embrace, and Upton would tell him, "You deserve this."
"It was uncanny that the movie I played in my head played out exactly in real life as I'd imagined," Upton tells HT over the phone, reflecting on his first-ever meeting with Gukesh, who beat China's Ding Liren to become world champion last week.
Upton, a renowned mental coach from South Africa, has had a long history of helping Indians on their journey to success. He worked with the Indian men's cricket team that won the 2011 ICC World Cup, as well as the men's hockey team that won bronze at the Paris Olympics in September.
He now has a fresh success story to share - that of being part of 18-year-old Gukesh's team. Excerpts:
How have the last six months been for you working with Gukesh?
Gukesh was an absolute pleasure to work with. He had remarkable self-awareness and ability to reflect on his thinking and he would arrive with great questions. He was so receptive to different ideas and new thinking, but he still had the maturity to discern what was relevant for him and what wasn't.
Gukesh comes across as a mature and measured person. Do you feel that sometimes he needs to perhaps act his age, be a teen once in a while?
Denne historien er fra December 21, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times Pune.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 21, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times Pune.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
In 2024, My Signature Became My Autograph
Abhay Verma talks about gaining recognition this year with Munjya and being a ray of hope for newcomers in Bollywood
Gurmeet Choudhary: This year presented me as action hero to audiences
This year, the era of Gurmeet Choudhary has started; I will kill it in 2025!
The era of chaotic customisation ft charms, DIY, and more
After years of minimalism, the Y2K revival has now cast a spotlight on chaotic customisation. This trend is about making your style uniquely yours.
Will make music in Hindi if I get a chance, says Chen
South Korean singer-songwriter Chen's maiden trip to India was made memorable by the love he received from his fans. \"I am filled with joy, and I hope that it is the same for my Indian fans,\" he tells us.
Vedang Raina: It has been a crazy year in the best way possible
While excited to step into 2025, actor Vedang Raina looks back fondly at 2024, calling it \"a crazy year in the best way possible\".
Humpy: From retirement plan to a second world rapid crown
Her win caps a golden year for Indian chess after Gukesh won the World title and India claimed the Open and Women's titles in the Budapest Olympiad
City Get Much-Needed Win, Forest Move to 2nd on Table
In his 500th game in charge of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola had some reasons to smile again.
I want to prove my critics wrong: Reddy
A day after he became the toast of a nation, Nitish Reddy showed just why he is here to stay.
Steelers Defeat Patna Pirates To Clinch Maiden PKL Crown
Haryana Steelers secured their first-ever Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) title in an electrifying final against Patna Pirates at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune on Sunday.
India Fail to Cash In on Bumrah's Brilliance
As we head into a rare fifth day of a Test match, the promise of what is to come is enticing.
