New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Indian boxer Preeti Pawar, who recently clinched gold at the Asian Boxing Championships, said that engaging in quilling and calligraphy serves as her primary stress buster to avoid overthinking during high-pressure international tournaments.

Preeti, currently preparing for the upcoming Asian Games, spoke about her creative outlet, her meticulous routine during gruelling weight cuts, and her preparations for future competitions.

Yes, whenever I get time, I do quilling. Before going to the Commonwealth Games, we had a training camp in Belfast. Whenever I was free, I did quilling. I made a poster for Shri Bhaiyya with quilling. He liked it a lot. I have made a lot of posters for my teammates as well.

For Preeti, detailed artwork is more than just a hobby; it acts as a mental reset away from the demanding world of competitive boxing.

"I like doing quilling and calligraphy. It diverts my mind from sports for a while. I think it is important to divert yourself for a while. I personally feel that if we think too much, overthinking is not good. Quilling helps me to maintain pressure and feel relaxed," she added.

Her artistic gestures have resonated deeply with fellow Indian athletes, including high jumper Tejaswin Shankar, who recently made a remarkable podium finish following a major injury comeback. Inspired by his resilience, Preeti crafted a special piece of art for him after learning about his mindset and recovery journey.

"He made a strong comeback. I wanted to make something for him. He was very happy when I gave it to him. He shared a lot of things with me. How he made his comeback and his mindset. I was very inspired by his story," she said.

Preeti further detailed the challenging physical demands of match-day preparations, particularly managing weight cuts of around 1.5 kg shortly before stepping into the ring.

"Weight cutting is definitely a challenge, though I have been doing this for a long time. The most important thing is what we eat before the bout. At the last moment, after cutting weight, we don't eat anything until weigh-in. Rehydrating properly right after is crucial so that performance isn't affected," she explained.

With as little as three hours between early morning weigh-ins and scheduled bouts, Preeti said she follows a strict step-by-step recovery and mental preparation routine.

"I make a bout plan the day before. On match day, after cutting weight by 6:30 AM and completing weigh-in, I rehydrate around 7:00 AM and take proper nutrition. If time permits, I take a quick nap before heading to the arena. I also like to visualise the bout beforehand—it really helps me mentally," she noted.

Riding high on her gold medal performance at the Asian Championship, Preeti is set to fine-tune her tactical strategy in upcoming training camps alongside her coaches as she targets top honours at the Asian Games.

Speaking about the level of competition at the Asian Games in Japan compared to the Commonwealth Games. Preeti said, "I think it's tough; there are a lot of good countries in Asia that are doing well in boxing. But I think the Asian Championship was held last March, and I won a gold medal there. It was a great experience for me and for the Asian Games as well.

"Mostly the same countries will participate in the Asian Games, and I think I will meet the same opponents there. Next, I will discuss with the coaches what areas I want to work on and what will be our game plan for the Asian Games. We will discuss that in the training camp."

--IANS

bc/