Essential Competitional and Training Psychological Skills Determining Winner and Loser in Senior Young Badminton Players

In this chapter, we studied and compared sixteen psychological parameters between youth badminton winners and losers across competition (C) and practice (P) contexts. The test of performance strategies (TOPS) was administered to 67 youth badminton players, their scores were recorded, and their match outcome statistics were also documented. It was demonstrated from the radar plot analysis that winners consistently scored higher in activation during C and P, imagery in C, goal setting in C, and attentional control in P, indicating superior mental readiness, visualisation, and strategic focus essential for performance stability in this group. In contrast, losers exhibited elevated negative thinking during C and slightly higher goal setting in P, suggesting cognitive interference under pressure and less effective planning during training. Although losers demonstrated moderate use of self-talk in C, relaxation, and emotional control in P, these strategies appeared inconsistent and reactive, limiting their transfer to competitive situations. Overall, winners displayed a cohesive psychological profile characterised by integrated skills that support adaptive focus and emotional stability, whereas losers showed fragmented regulation marked by negative thinking and uneven coping. These findings accentuate the importance of structured psychological training, particularly in self-talk, relaxation, and emotional control, to enhance resilience, attentional stability, and performance consistency among developing badminton athletes.