Harnessing Technology for India's Sporting Future: Insights from IITM

We wanted to bring the rigour of IIT Madras to revolutionise the field of sports as well. We wanted to use the core strengths of IIT Madras - high quality research and development as well as teaching.

PROF. DR. MAHESH PANCHAGNULA

Head, Centre of Excellence in Sports Science Analytics, IIT Madras

As the Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras, what motivated you to explore the intersection of technology and sports?

IIT Madras is well known for having been the backbone for the country on several national technological initiatives from 5G in the most recent times to engineering railway track transition in the 1960s. As we continue to lay emphasis on our athletes and their performance on the world stage, it became increasingly clear that this field needs an infusion of high-end technology as much as our communications infrastructure. We wanted to bring the rigour of IIT Madras to revolutionise the field of sports as well. We wanted to use the core strengths of IIT Madras - high quality research and development as well as teaching - to change the face of sports tech in the country.

How do you envision sports technology driving the future of athletics in India, particularly in terms of performance improvement and athlete training?

Technology continues to play a crucial role in helping our athletes perform on the global stage. From providing them the necessary backend training to providing a psychological edge, athletes today, in every sport, globally rely heavily on technology. If we could create and proliferate performance technology to the grassroots, India as a country would benefit by letting a thousand flowers bloom. A large base of sports-embracing citizenry is the foundation on which any country's athletic prowess rests. India needs to engineer this change through a deliberate process of allowing students to take to paths that were hitherto unexplored or underexplored. Introducing technology that "gamifies sports" and allows young men and women in schools to enjoy playing is a first step to making that transition.