The Madras Management Association (MMA), in association with TimeLinks and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, organised a special programme titled “Beyond the Hurdles – The Champion’s Mindset for Leadership Excellence” at the MMA Management Center, Chennai, celebrating the outstanding achievements of Indian Olympian and Asian Games medallist Ms Vithya Ramraj.
The highlight of the evening was an engaging conversation between Ms Vithya Ramraj and Indian table tennis legend and Padma Shri awardee Mr Achanta Sharath Kamal, who explored the mindset, discipline and resilience behind sustained excellence in competitive sport. The programme sought to draw meaningful parallels between sporting excellence and leadership in business and management.
At the recently concluded Asian Games in Nagoya, Vithya created history by clocking 54.75 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles, setting a new Indian national record and surpassing the iconic benchmark established by P. T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She also won Gold in the women’s 4×400m relay, Silver in the mixed 4×400m relay and Bronze in the 400m hurdles.
During the conversation, Vithya spoke about the years of disciplined preparation, family support, coaching, setbacks and incremental improvement that contributed to her record-breaking performance. She emphasised that success at the highest level is rarely the result of one extraordinary moment, but the outcome of consistency, perseverance and the determination to keep improving.
Drawing from his own distinguished sporting career, Mr Achanta Sharath Kamal observed that champions are defined not merely by medals, but by their ability to remain focused through setbacks, continuously raise their own benchmarks and perform under pressure. He highlighted the importance of preparation, mental strength, adaptability and the constant pursuit of improvement—qualities equally relevant to leaders and organisations.
Welcoming the gathering, Mr A R Unnikrishnan, President, MMA and Managing Director, Saint-Gobain India Pvt Ltd – Glass Business, said that Vithya Ramraj’s journey offered powerful lessons for the management community. He noted that leadership, like high-performance sport, demands discipline, resilience, teamwork and the ability to stay committed to long-term goals even when immediate results are not visible.
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In her opening remarks, Ms Chitra Sivakumar, Managing Partner, TimeLinks, highlighted the importance of recognising not only sporting achievement but also the ecosystem that enables excellence. She observed that Vithya’s journey demonstrated the significant role played by family, coaches, mentors and support systems in nurturing talent and enabling individuals to realise their potential.
The discussion also touched upon marginal gains, performance under pressure, the role of data and coaching, balancing individual excellence with team responsibility, and the importance of setting fresh goals even after achieving major milestones.
Gp Capt R Vijayakumar (Retd), VSM, Executive Director, MMA, added, “MMA is privileged to host this special event honouring the outstanding achievements of Ms Vithya Ramraj. Her journey from modest beginnings in Coimbatore to representing India on the international stage exemplifies the power of perseverance, discipline and collective effort. Supported by her family, twin sister Nithya and her coaches, her remarkable sporting journey reinforces the enduring lesson that excellence is built through sustained effort, resilience and a strong support system.”
The programme concluded with an interactive session with MMA members and a felicitation of Ms Vithya Ramraj in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Indian athletics.
Photo Caption:
Indian Olympian and Asian Games medallist Ms Vithya Ramraj with Indian table tennis legend and Padma Shri awardee Mr Achanta Sharath Kamal, Mr A R Unnikrishnan, President, Madras Management Association, Ms Chitra Sivakumar, Managing Partner, TimeLinks, and other dignitaries at the MMA programme “Beyond the Hurdles – The Champion’s Mindset for Leadership Excellence” held in Chennai.
For more details about Madras Management Association, please visit: www.mmachennai.org