Sports Science Holds The Key to Olympic Wins

Director-in-charge and Head of National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR) Dr. Bibhu Kalyan Nayak speaks to Outlook on the importance of sports science in modern-day sports training.

BRIG. (DR.) BIBHU KALYAN NAYAK

Director in-charge of NCSSR

How do you see the role of sports science and technology in transforming the training regimes of Indian athletes? Can this lead to better performance at global events like the Olympics?

India's embrace of sports technology is indicative of a paradigm shift in the country's approach to athletics. The integration of data analytics, wearable technology, virtual reality, and more, has the potential to redefine how athletes train, compete, and succeed. Wearable technology, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and heart rate monitors, has become an integral part of Indian athletes' training routines. These devices help monitor and analyze key physiological indicators, enabling coaches to tailor training programs based on real-time data. Athletes can now track their heart rate; distance covered, calorie expenditure, and even sleep patterns, empowering them to optimize their training and recovery. As technology continues to evolve, India's sports ecosystem is primed to harness innovation for even greater achievements on the global stage. With enhanced performance and strategic insights at their fingertips, Indian athletes are poised to conquer new heights and inspire generations to come.

Data analytics has become a vital tool in sports performance. How do you envision leveraging data science to identify and nurture medal-winning potential among Indian athletes?