Vishnu Saravanan will not waste any time in honing his competitive spirit ahead of the Paris Games. His coach has an unconventional theory on Olympic preparations.

The 25-year old is aiming to be the only Indian sailor who competes in multiple Olympics. He is also aiming for a top-10 finish in his second Games.

Saravanan's Croatian coach Milan Vujasinovic wants him to stay competitive.

Saravanan said at a virtual media conference organized by the Sports Authority of India Tuesday that he believes we should have a competitive mentality whether we are on or off water.

You'd need to pass them if someone was walking in front. This is the mindset I need to adopt.

We compete in every aspect of life, from walking to cooking. He's funny.

"He's an excellent coach and helps me with all my problems. He is well respected in the fleet. "I'm fortunate to have him."

Saravanan doesn't mind spending time in the kitchen as it is a part of a larger coping mechanism for loneliness.

The Asian Games bronze-medallist spent a large part of his year abroad training and only made a short trip home to see his family just before the Paris Games.

"Sometimes I don't even come home for eight months. Sometimes it's lonely, but I keep in mind the goal and that makes me hopeful."

COOKING RECIPE

The Laser Standard sailor of Tamil Nadu, a south Indian state, is cooking.

He said, "I love to cook even though I don’t cook Indian much because it takes so long," with a smile.

It won't be nice." It won't make you feel good."

Saravanan, who is very proud of his adaptability and ability to learn quickly, misses spending time with friends.

He would not describe his efforts to reach his sporting goals as a sacrifice or a struggle.

"People are homeless, and they struggle to get the next meal. These are the people who are struggling to survive and are willing to sacrifice everything for the next meal.

"This is what I do. It's comparatively nothing."

Marseille, a Mediterranean port city that will host sailing events for the Paris Games, is expected to be shook up by strong winds.

He believes that the tactical aspect of this sport, which he refers to as "chess on Water", could be even more important in such a case.

It'll be an interesting challenge, because the results will be ups anddowns.

"I like these situations because they give you a small chance to perform, and the person who is consistent wins." Reporting by Amlanchakraborty, New Delhi. Editing by Ken Ferris