**Executive Summary**
On July 10, 2026, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate sports science with sports medicine. This partnership aims to build a scientifically enabled, athlete-centric ecosystem by combining the expertise and infrastructure of both institutions. The collaboration supports national initiatives like Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to enhance India's performance in future international competitions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Core Objectives of the MoU**
* Establishes a formal framework for collaboration in sports science, medicine, rehabilitation, research, innovation, and education.
* Combines the infrastructure and scientific capabilities of SAI and SIC to provide integrated support for athletes and support staff.
* Promotes evidence-based practices and multidisciplinary research to optimize athlete performance.
**Technical and Scientific Focus**
* Implementation of standardized clinical and sports science protocols.
* Facilitation of knowledge exchange and advanced athlete support services.
* Focus on injury prevention, monitoring, and sustainable scientific solutions for long-term athlete health.
**Strategic Alignment**
* Supports the Government of India’s "Viksit Bharat@2047" vision to establish the nation as a leading global sporting power.
* Complements existing flagship programs including Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
* Aims to improve preparedness for major international events, specifically the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Athletes**
**Impact**
Athletes will have access to a world-class support ecosystem featuring integrated medical excellence, scientific monitoring, and specialized rehabilitation. This is expected to improve injury recovery times and overall performance levels.
**Action Required**
Athletes should engage with the newly integrated monitoring and rehabilitation systems provided through the SAI and SIC framework to maximize their physical preparedness.
**Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC)**
**Impact**
Both premier institutions will benefit from a structured institutional framework that allows for shared research, innovation, and capacity building. It eliminates silos between sports science and sports medicine.
**Action Required**
The organizations must coordinate to standardize clinical protocols and facilitate the planned knowledge exchange and multidisciplinary research projects.
**Sports Support Staff and Medical Professionals**
**Impact**
Coaches, physiotherapists, and medical staff will receive enhanced training and education through capacity-building initiatives, providing them with evidence-based tools to manage athlete health.
**Action Required**
Support staff must participate in new capacity-building programs and adopt the standardized protocols established under the MoU to ensure consistent care across the sporting ecosystem.
Key Entities Referenced
Sports Authority of India (SAI): The apex national sports body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and a primary signatory of the MoU for strengthening sports science.
Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC): A specialized medical facility under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare collaborating to provide sports medicine and athlete rehabilitation.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): A flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports intended to benefit from the enhanced athlete care framework established by the MoU.
Khelo India: A national initiative for sports development complemented by this collaboration to build a competitive sporting ecosystem.
Viksit Bharat@2047: The government's strategic vision to establish India as a leading sporting nation by 2047.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Sports Authority of India and Safdarjung Sports
Injury Centre Sign MoU to Strengthen Sports
Science and Athlete Care
"The future of high-performance sport depends upon the
seamless integration of sports science and sports medicine":
Secretary (Sports) Shri Hari Ranjan Rao
Collaboration aligned with Government's vision of building a
scientifically enabled, athlete-centric and globally
competitive sporting ecosystem
MoU complements flagship initiatives such as Khelo India,
TOPS and Viksit Bharat@2047 vision for India as a leading
sporting nation
प्रव तथ: 08 JUL 2026 8:21PM by PIB Delhi
New Delhi | July 10, 2026: The Sports Authority of India (SAI), under the Ministry of Youth Affairs &
Sports (MYAS), and the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC), under the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare (MoHFW), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in
sports science, sports medicine, athlete rehabilitation, research, innovation, education and capacity
building.
The MoU aims to create an integrated framework by combining the expertise, infrastructure and scientific
capabilities of both institutions to provide comprehensive support for Indian athletes and support staff.The collaboration will promote evidence-based sports science and medical practices, facilitate
multidisciplinary research, strengthen athlete injury prevention, rehabilitation, and enhance performance
optimisation through scientific interventions.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth
Affairs & Sports and Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
On behalf of SAI, the MoU was signed by Brig. (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, Executive Director, Sports
Science Division (Erstwhile NCSSR) and (Dr.) Deepak Joshi, Director, Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre
signed on behalf of the SICSpeaking on the occasion, Shri Rao, said, "The future of high-performance sport depends upon the
seamless integration of sports science and sports medicine".
He further noted that this MoU establishes a strong institutional framework that will promote collaborative
research, scientific innovation, athlete monitoring and rehabilitation, ultimately contributing towards
building a world-class support ecosystem for Indian athletes.
Adding to it, Ms.Salila said, "Sports medicine and sports science have become indispensable components
of athlete health and performance. This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both Ministries to
integrate medical excellence with sports science expertise for developing robust systems of injury
prevention, clinical care, rehabilitation and scientific research that will benefit athletes across the country."
Brig. Nayak, further said, "The partnership will facilitate multidisciplinary research, standardised clinical
and sports science protocols, knowledge exchange and advanced athlete support services."
He added that by combining the strengths of both institutions, we will be able to develop sustainable
scientific solutions that will directly translate into improved athlete performance and long-term athlete
health.
Prof. Joshi also contributed and said, "This partnership will further strengthen research, education,
rehabilitation and evidence-based sports medicine for the benefit of athletes across the country."
The MoU marks an important milestone in institutional collaboration between two of India's premier
organisations in sports science and sports medicine.
The collaboration is aligned with the Government of India's vision of building a scientifically enabled,
athlete-centric and globally competitive sporting ecosystem.
It also complements flagship initiatives such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme
(TOPS), while supporting the country's long-term aspiration under Viksit Bharat@2047 to establish India
as a leading sporting nation.
By promoting research, innovation, capacity building and evidence-based athlete care, the partnership is
expected to strengthen India's high-performance system and enhance the nation's preparedness for future
international competitions, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.****
Ayushmam Kumar
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