ANXIETY IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COMBATIVE AND NON-COMBATIVE FEMALE PLAYERS

This study examines the anxiety levels of combative and non-combative athletes, focusing on female students aged 18 to 25 from Haryana state. A total of 120 participants were selected, with 60 from combative sports (wrestling, boxing, judo) and 60 from non-combative sports (volleyball, hockey, softball). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure both state and trait anxiety. Results showed that combative athletes exhibited significantly higher levels of both state anxiety (mean = 35.70) and trait anxiety (mean = 34.02) compared to their non-combative counterparts (state anxiety mean = 29.21; trait anxiety mean = 30.28). These findings suggest that the nature of combative sports may contribute to increased anxiety levels, highlighting the importance of psychological preparation in athletic training.