EFFECTIVENESS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS TRAINING (PST) ON PERFORMANCE OF STATE-LEVEL TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of a structured Psychological Skills Training (PST) program on the performance of state-level table tennis players. Forty players aged 17–25, enrolled in a Gurugram-based academy, were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent a 12-week PST intervention incorporating visuo-motor behavior rehearsal, self-talk training, and progressive muscle relaxation, while the control group continued regular training. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control group design was adopted. Performance was evaluated using four standardized table tennis skills tests: Target Service, Alternate Counter, Forehand Drive, and Alternate Push. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANCOVA were used to analyze group differences, with signicance set at p < 0.05. Results: The ANCOVA revealed no statistically signicant post-test differences between groups across all performance variables. The experimental group showed slight, non-signicant numerical improvements in Forehand Drive and Alternate Push scores. Low R² values across models indicated minimal explanatory power for the intervention. Conclusion: The PST program did not produce immediate, signicant improvements in technical skill performance for the experimental group. The ndings suggest that short-duration psychological interventions may be insufcient to yield measurable changes in performance at the state level. Future research should consider longer intervention periods, individualized PST modules, and better integration with physical training. These results contribute to ongoing discourse regarding the role of PST in athlete development within Indian sports contexts.