Badminton legend Pullela Gopichand unveils The Glyder Advantage, a book on champion mindsets for everyday success
Titled The Glyder Advantage – Beat the Pressure. Perform at Your Best, the book is co-authored by sports psychologist Dr Sandy Gordon, behavioural science practitioner Gopinathan CP, and Ritu Vinayak.
Pullela Gopichand at the launch of The Glyder Advantage – Beat the Pressure. Perform at Your Best, alongside co-authors Gopinathan CP and Ritu Vinayak, in Hyderabad on Friday. The event featured a discussion moderated by Anu Hasan, while co-author Dr Sandy Gordon joined virtually from Australia.
Hyderabad: A new book that brings the mental skills of elite athletes into everyday life was unveiled by badminton coach and former All England champion Pullela Gopichand, offering readers practical strategies to handle pressure at work, in academics, business and sports.
Titled The Glyder Advantage – Beat the Pressure. Perform at Your Best, the book is co-authored by sports psychologist Dr Sandy Gordon, behavioural science practitioner Gopinathan CP, and learning science expert Ritu Vinayak. It adapts twelve proven mental skills used by elite athletes into practical techniques for professionals, students, entrepreneurs and aspiring sportspersons.
The launch event featured a conversation moderated by actor and writer Anu Hasan, while Dr Gordon joined virtually from Australia.
Mental Skills Beyond the Playing Field
The authors argue that while technical ability and talent are important, consistent performance under pressure depends largely on mental conditioning—an area traditionally associated with elite sport but equally relevant in daily life.
Dr. Sandy Gordon, who has spent more than three decades working with Olympic athletes and international cricket teams, said the same mental tools that help athletes recover from setbacks can also help students bounce back from poor exam results and professionals overcome workplace challenges.
Gopinathan C. P. said the book presents behavioural science through stories and examples rooted in the Indian context, making complex psychological concepts easier to understand and apply.
Ritu Vinayak noted that each chapter concludes with practical exercises and techniques that readers can implement immediately, rather than simply offering motivational ideas.
Built Around 12 Practical Mental Skills
The book is structured around twelve core mental skills that help individuals perform consistently under pressure. Every chapter follows a common format featuring relatable Indian scenarios, explanations of the underlying psychological principle, practical exercises under the “Glyder’s Take” section, and QR-code-based self-assessments.
The authors describe the book as a practical training guide rather than a conventional self-help publication.
Target Audience
The Glyder Advantage is aimed primarily at:
- Young professionals navigating workplace stress and career growth.
- Students preparing for board examinations and competitive entrance tests.
- Parents supporting children through academic pressure.
- Individuals seeking to improve personal performance and resilience.
Drawing on over 25 years of experience in behavioural science, learning and corporate training, the authors have adapted sports psychology into practical lessons relevant to everyday life.
About the Authors
Dr Sandy Gordon is an internationally recognised sports psychologist who has worked with Olympic athletes and several ICC Cricket World Cup finalist teams, including Australia, India and Sri Lanka.
Gopinathan CP and Ritu Vinayak bring extensive experience in behavioural science, adult learning and performance coaching across corporate and educational sectors in more than 20 countries.
The paperback edition is available through the official Glyder website, while the e-book is available on Amazon Kindle.
