SAI and Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre join hands for athlete care

The collaboration will promote evidence-based sports science and medical practices while encouraging multidisciplinary research, knowledge sharing and innovation.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in sports science, sports medicine, athlete rehabilitation and research. The partnership is expected to provide Indian athletes with better scientific support while improving injury prevention, recovery and performance enhancement.

The agreement brings together the expertise and infrastructure of the Sports Authority of India, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. By combining their resources, the two institutions aim to build a more integrated support system for athletes and sports support staff across the country.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Sports Secretary Shri Hari Ranjan Rao and Health Secretary Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava. It was formally signed by Brig. (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, Executive Director of SAI's Sports Science Division, and Dr. Deepak Joshi, Director of the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre.

Focus on research, rehabilitation and athlete performance

The collaboration will promote evidence-based sports science and medical practices while encouraging multidisciplinary research, knowledge sharing and innovation. It will also focus on developing standardised clinical protocols, improving athlete monitoring systems and strengthening rehabilitation programmes to help athletes recover faster and return to competition safely.

Speaking at the event, Hari Ranjan Rao said modern high-performance sport depends on the effective integration of sports science and sports medicine. He noted that the partnership creates a strong institutional framework for collaborative research, scientific innovation and athlete rehabilitation, helping build a world-class support system for Indian sport.

Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said sports medicine has become an essential part of athlete health and performance. She added that the collaboration reflects the shared commitment of both ministries to combine medical expertise with sports science in order to develop stronger systems for injury prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and scientific research.

Partnership supports India's long-term sporting ambitions

Brig. (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak said the agreement will encourage multidisciplinary research, improve clinical and sports science practices and promote advanced athlete support services. He added that combining the strengths of both institutions will lead to sustainable scientific solutions that improve both athlete performance and long-term health.

Dr. Deepak Joshi said the partnership will strengthen research, education and evidence-based sports medicine while improving rehabilitation services for athletes across the country.

The collaboration aligns with the Government of India's vision of creating a scientifically enabled and athlete-centred sporting ecosystem. It also supports flagship initiatives such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) while contributing to the broader goal of establishing India as a leading sporting nation under Viksit Bharat@2047.

By expanding research, innovation, capacity building and evidence-based athlete care, the partnership is expected to strengthen India's high-performance sports system and improve the country's preparation for future international events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.