Israeli sports psychologist Nimrod Mon Brokman is working with Lakshya Sen at the All England Badminton Championships. His unconventional methods, such as cycling under hypoxic conditions, are aiding Sen’s semifinal run. Mon praises Sen’s temperament of laughing in the face of challenges.
Nimrod Mon Brokman, who works with athletes at his Bangalore-based Behavioral Foresight facility, has been with Lakshya Sen since mid-2025. He helped Sen dismantle the misconception that his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics was a failure. Mon says, “It was actually an extraordinary result. He qualified with just two tournaments left, while managing injury, and still had a brilliant run at the highest level of competition — something India should have highly appreciated.”
Returning to Paris for the 2025 World Championships, Sen lost in the first round to Shi Yuqi, the same opponent he later faced at the All England. But Mon views it as a turning point. “You might not see it on the scoreboard, but that match was a turning point. It told me he had put everything behind him.”
Injuries are a recurring issue for Sen, particularly his back, due to his grinding, retrieving style. Yet Mon notes Sen’s maturity in handling them. “All athletes get injured. After the first few times, the mature ones settle into it — they understand loading and de-loading, the importance of recovery. Lakshya is brilliant at that. Inspiring, even.”
Mon sees little fear in Sen when facing hard challenges, a trait he compares to elite military units like Special Forces or 9 Para. They are honing an attitude blending Muhammad Ali’s bravado with Rafael Nadal’s patience, suited to Sen’s game. At the All England, this has helped him stay patient against opponents like Li Shifeng and manage lost leads without panic.
Mon admits the learning has been mutual. On his first trip with Sen, he found a comedy show playing, leading to sessions mixed with jokes. “I wasn’t so sure about it,” Mon laughs. “But we went through that session with jokes and laughter, and I realised: you have to allow the brain to be open, even in heavy sessions.” Sen taught the psychologist the value of switching off and returning lighter.
