Psychological Factors Influencing Athletic Performance in Sporting Events with Reference to SDG-16

Sport Psychology has been defined as the study of mental health of the athletes to achieve better outcomes in sporting events. Athletes perform in sporting events primarily due to fun (enjoyment, challenge, and excitement), socialization (to be with others, belonging to a group), and willingness to achieve. But the biggest challenge lies in whether the athletes are performing as per the expectations of the fans and spectators who are buying tickets to experience their favourite sport personalities. Self-determination theory by Deci and Ryan (1985) adapted in the study stated that individuals can be motivated by engaging in an activity for the purpose of enjoyment and pleasure. The study is a literature review which attempts to explore the psychological factors influencing athletic performance based on mega sporting events like cricket, football, lawn tennis, badminton, and so on. The research papers were extracted from prestigious journals of sports, psychology, and medicine and the researchers attempted to address the association and indicators contributing to sport psychology and athletic performance. There have been significant differences among athletes’ skill level performing at the highest level in terms of concentration, anxiety management, self-confidence, mental preparation, and motivation. Mindfulness-based interventions have impacted sport psychology in recent times. However, the relationship between perfectionism and performance remains vague in the body of knowledge. Sporting events have been utilized as platforms for bridging social divides and promoting community development as part of United Nation’s SDG-16.