In Episode 7 of Mind Over Medals — News9 Sports' podcast on everything that goes on inside the mind of athletes — we speak with Tokyo Paralympics bronze medallist Sharad Kumar. Since returning from Tokyo, Sharad has been battling the question 'what now?' Despite that, he has continued training as he tries to figure out what to do after his career ends. In this interview, he talks about post-Paralympic blues, the anxiety he went through after testing positive for a banned substance ahead of the London Paralympics, why he 'ran away' to Ukraine, and the things he has had to endure as a physically challenged athlete in India.  

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If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, help is available through mental health helplines. You can call all on 9152987821 or Aasra at 9820466726. You can also find both these numbers in our show notes at the bottom.
The IOC'S Mental Health Working Group has also developed a Mental Health Recognition Tool called SMHRT-1 to help athletes or their entourage members recognise mental health symptoms or disorders among athletes. Please note that the tool is just to recognise symptoms. Entourage members shouldn't attempt to diagnose athletes’ mental health without the appropriate training needed to do so.
link: https://bit.ly/3GjflVo