I was fortunate enough to get in touch with Madhuli mam at a time when my badminton performance was stuck for the last two years due to persistent mental blocks and identical mental patterns. I also happened to undergo ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair during this time. Madhuli mam helped me to change my perspective of viewing the world both on court and off the court which tremendously helped me to change myself. She is very empathetic and polite and provides practical solutions to help improve the situation. She made me realise how I was stuck in a loop of negative self talk which was stopping me to move forward with my career and also provided me with at-home exercises to practice the new way of thinking. I am really grateful for all the help and teachings provided by mam and would highly recommend athletes at any level to get in touch with mam to improve their performance and life.

I have had the privilege of working with Mrs. Madhuli Kulkarni since 2008, during what was one of the most significant phases of my athletic career—preparing for the Commonwealth Games. As a young athlete back then, I faced numerous challenges, including the intense pressure of selection trials, high-stakes tournaments, and the expectation to perform and win medals. Mrs. Kulkarni played a crucial role in helping me navigate these moments with clarity, composure, and mental strength.

At a time when it was rare for sports psychologists to be actively present on the field, she made it a point to be there during the final and most critical phase of trials in 2010—at the stadium, on her own initiative. This level of dedication spoke volumes about her commitment to her athletes and her deep understanding of what they truly need.

Now, in my current role as a coach for the Indian team, I continue to benefit from her guidance. Coaching at the highest level comes with its own set of challenges and pressures, and Mrs. Kulkarni has been instrumental in helping me handle these situations with professionalism and a focused mindset. Her support has enabled me to maintain the highest standards of work ethics and concentrate fully on coaching—contributing to India’s success and medal wins on the international stage.

Her involvement throughout my journey—from athlete to coach—has made a lasting impact, and I hold the highest regard for her expertise, integrity, and unwavering support.

Madhuli Ma’am is the cutest mental trainer I have ever trained under. She always has a smile on her face which makes me comfortable to talk too and everything seems so easy and simple. She is always approachable.

In the year 2010 when I had to qualify for my first CWG Madhuli ma’am told me how to handle it, visualise that I am walking the hallway and playing CWG and many more techniques and it really worked. I made it in the team and won Silver medal in CWG 2010.

In the year 2012, Madhuli Ma’am accompanied us to Bengal for National Ranking. That’s the time when she actually saw me playing live in a tournament. I was making my comeback that year because in the year 2011 I was not even in top 20. I played quarter finals in Bengal, she gave me few pointers and few techniques and one simple advice to see positive in everything and I won gold in the very next tournament in New Delhi.

Madhuli Ma’am has helped me grow in my game and the way I think on and off the table. Table Tennis and every sport requires mental fitness now and having such mental trainers is what we need.

Cricket is played 80% in the head. I had always been an overthinker with plenty of doubts and questions but never really had anyone to refer to. This changed when I met Madhuli Ma’am. To me, she is an absolute magician who taught me the importance of understanding the mental aspect of the game.

The emphasis was always on allowing me to perform at will instead of by chance. She provided guidance on how to understand myself better and the routines I should follow in order to achieve success. I am proud to say I have come a long way and have a much better mindset to achieve success.

However, I would be lying if I say I am mentally extremely strong today, that is not the case, but I have learnt the art of managing mental blocks and challenges after plenty of 1 on 1 sessions by Madhuli Ma’am. Madhuli Ma’am also understands an individual at a personal level and finds methods that suit different characters. I would highly recommend not only the athletes, but even a common man who is facing mental challenges to work with Madhuli Ma’am, I assure you, your life will change.