The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in sports science, sports medicine, athlete rehabilitation, research, innovation, education and capacity building, in a move aimed at enhancing India’s high-performance sports ecosystem.
The agreement, signed by SAI under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SIC under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seeks to create an integrated framework by combining the expertise, infrastructure and scientific capabilities of both institutions to provide comprehensive support to Indian athletes and support staff.
The collaboration will focus on promoting evidence-based sports science and medical practices, facilitating multidisciplinary research, strengthening injury prevention and rehabilitation, and improving athlete performance through scientific interventions.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava. It was signed on behalf of SAI by Brig. (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, Executive Director of the Sports Science Division, while Dr. Deepak Joshi, Director of the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre, signed on behalf of SIC.
Speaking on the occasion, Rao said the future of high-performance sport depends on the seamless integration of sports science and sports medicine. He said the partnership establishes a strong institutional framework for collaborative research, scientific innovation, athlete monitoring and rehabilitation, helping build a world-class support system for Indian athletes.
Srivastava said sports medicine and sports science have become indispensable to athlete health and performance, adding that the partnership reflects the shared commitment of both ministries to strengthen injury prevention, clinical care, rehabilitation and scientific research.
Brig. Nayak said the collaboration would facilitate multidisciplinary research, standardised clinical and sports science protocols, knowledge exchange and advanced athlete support services. Combining the strengths of both institutions, he added, would help develop sustainable scientific solutions to improve athlete performance and ensure long-term health.
Dr. Joshi said the partnership would further strengthen research, education, rehabilitation and evidence-based sports medicine for the benefit of athletes across the country.
The government said the collaboration aligns with its vision of building a scientifically enabled, athlete-centric and globally competitive sporting ecosystem. It complements flagship initiatives such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) while supporting the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision of establishing India as a leading sporting nation.
The partnership is expected to strengthen India’s high-performance sports system and enhance the country’s preparedness for future international events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
