Some people think that physical strength is important for success in sports, while other people think that mental strength is more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

It is true that the question of what is the determining factor in sports success remains a source of controversy. While many people claim that mental toughness plays the most significant role for sportspersons, I would believe that physical fitness is more important.
On one hand, there are some reasons why mental strength is seen as the crucial element for success in sports. Firstly, developing a strong mentality allows athletes to perform at more than the level they are capable of in competition even under pressure. Their confidence and their calm would stay at a steady state whether they make mistakes or achieve points. Secondly, sports players who have mental qualities are not distracted by external factors like spectators and weather. For example, in the Asian Football Confederation Championship final between Viet Nam and Uzbekistan, although they have to play in heavy snow, both teams have been on good form and their concentration is not influenced.
Despite the above argument, I would contend that physical fitness is the key to sports success. It is undeniable to say that the majority of sports require endurance, stamina and suppleness, thereby building physical power exerts a great impact on athlete’s performance. Take cycling as an example, if cyclists do not have enough endurance and strength, they will not be able to complete the race. Moreover, one of the most significant benefits is that physical prowess reduce the risk of injury. It is true that injuries are inevitable in sport competition but according to many researches, strength training helps decrease the incidence as well as the severity of injury.
In conclusion, although mental fitness certainly has much validity, it seems to me that muscle strength is more essential. However, in order to achieve the best performance, I assert that sportspersons should pay equal attention to both factors.