Transition From Sub Elite to Elite: Psychological Factors Enabling Success Among Indian Athletes

Abstract

This study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of sixteen high-performing Indian athletes. Through in-depth qualitative interactions, athletes reflected on their experiences of peak performance and the psychological factors supporting progression from sub-elite to elite levels within the Indian sporting context. Seven dimensions of peak performance emerged from the participant’s account. The findings provide key insights into the psychological profiling of Indian athletes. Descriptive frequency, percentage analyses and chi-square were used to examine the relative prominence of these dimensions across competitive tiers. Competition tier-wise analysis revealed meaningful variations across competitive levels. The study offers a culturally grounded framework of Psychological Skill Characteristics (PSCs) and provides practical insights for coaches and sport psychologists to design stage-specific mental training interventions.