Beyond the Noise: What It Takes to Build Champions

A couple of weeks ago, at our Beyond the Noise CXO offsite in Khandala, we had the privilege of hosting Viren Rasquinha and Anukool Bharadwaj for a memorable conversation.

Viren, an Arjuna Awardee, former captain of the Indian hockey team, and CEO of OGQ (Olympic Gold Quest), spoke with remarkable honesty about sport, setbacks, pressure, and what it really takes to build champions. OGQ works tirelessly behind the scenes to help India win Olympic gold medals. Viren shared stories from his playing days and his journey as an institutional builder at OGQ.

Anukool, OGQ’s Chief Strategy Officer and a former hockey player himself, shared thoughtful examples of how AI and technology are beginning to strengthen this ecosystem, from analysing match footage faster to helping lean teams access capabilities they might otherwise not have had.

A few thoughts from the conversation have stayed with me.

First: Focus is a currency. OGQ did not try to support every sport or solve every problem. It chose a few areas where India had the potential to win and went deep. In a world where we are all tempted to do more, OGQ’s model reminds us that real progress often comes from choosing carefully. It also resonates with Jaspreet Bindra’s belief that what we choose not to do is as important as what we choose to do.

Second: Excellence is built through the 1% system. The difference between finishing fourth and winning a medal is rarely one dramatic intervention. It is coaching, recovery, nutrition, equipment, mental strength, preparation, and data. Small gains, consistently compounded.

Third, and perhaps the most powerful lesson: Support people through the dip. It is easy to stand beside athletes once they are on the podium. The harder, more meaningful work is to back them when they are injured, unknown, losing, or doubting themselves.

This conversation was a beautiful reminder that technology is not the end. It is a means to help people make better decisions and perform better. Performance, resilience, reinvention, and the human edge still matter most.

Thank you, Viren and Anukool, for your generosity and the perspectives you brought to the room.