IIT Madras Develops Advanced Sports Technology to Boost Indian Athletes’ Performance
Indian athletes have long faced a disadvantage in the international sports arena due to a lack of access to advanced training technology. However, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is now taking steps to change that. With a goal to help Indian athletes bring home more medals, starting with the Paris Olympics in 2024, the IIT Madras is developing cutting-edge tools and software to maximize the preparation and training of athletes.
One of the main challenges Indian athletes face is the reluctance of foreign countries to freely share their technological advancements. As a result, Indian athletes often have to travel abroad for training, leading to significant costs for the country. To address this issue, IIT Madras aims to reduce dependence on foreign assistance and equip Indian athletes with the necessary tools and technology.
Mahesh Panchagnula, the head of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Sport Sciences and Analytics at IIT Madras, explained, A lot of our athletes go abroad to train… they basically rely a lot on foreign technology and coaches both. This is a great drain on the exchequer and does not benefit a broad base of athletes. However, he firmly believes that technology can help solve this problem.
IIT Madras is collaborating with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and various sports federations to ensure that the technologies being developed are truly beneficial to athletes. Their ultimate goal is to help India win at least 25 gold medals in the next decade.
To achieve this, IIT Madras’s researchers are focusing on creating sustainable and scalable models for training athletes by developing indigenous technology. They are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) to design solutions specifically tailored to sportspersons.
Some of the technologies being developed include a combat sports lab, a performance model for archery, low-cost custom imaging, wearable sweat monitors, wearable ultrasound monitors, ball-flight dynamic models, force plates, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and food scanners.
One standout innovation is the SmartBoxer solution, a cost-effective boxing analytics platform that aims to increase India’s boxing medal tally at the 2024 Olympics. The platform utilizes IoT-based sensors and video cameras to provide in-depth analytics on various aspects of a boxer’s performance. For instance, it analyzes punch force, ground reaction force, movement in the player’s lower and upper body, and much more. This data can be used not only by coaches but also by judges to quantify the key traits of successful boxing champions.
In the long run, the Centre of Excellence plans to offer a four-year online program in Sports Science and Analytics in partnership with sports bodies. This initiative aims to attract more individuals in India to pursue sports science and sports analytics, which are becoming increasingly important in the country due to rising interest in sports at the grassroots level.
By prioritizing the development of indigenous sports technology and providing comprehensive training programs, IIT Madras is paving the way for Indian athletes to reach their full potential on the global stage. With advanced tools and software at their disposal, Indian athletes will no longer have to rely solely on foreign assistance, leading to a broader base of winners and a more promising future for Indian sports.
