Patiala, Jan 28 (NationPress) The Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala, recognized as the premier national institute for sports coaching and sports science education under the Sports Authority of India (SAI), is set to host an international conference entitled “Grassroots to Greatness: Talent Identification and Athlete Development” on February 6-7. This initiative aligns with the country’s long-term strategy and preparations for the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.

This esteemed conference continues the tradition of annual international gatherings initiated by SAI NSNIS Patiala for the fiscal year 2024–2025.

The inaugural conference, titled “Harmonizing Movement: Integrating Yoga with Sports Science for Peak Performance,” received significant acclaim from experts both domestically and internationally. Building on that momentum, the forthcoming event aims to enhance India’s athlete development ecosystem through scientific, holistic, and sustainable methodologies.

The two-day event is anticipated to attract over 550 participants from various regions of India, including coaches, sports scientists, administrators, academicians, and students, alongside more than 30 prominent national and international experts. This makes it one of the largest platforms for knowledge exchange in the realm of sports development within the nation.

The conference will be honored by the presence of the Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse.

Among the distinguished international experts invited to share their knowledge are Prof. Nenad Trunic (Dean of Faculty of Physical Education & Management in Sport, Singidunum University, Serbia), FIBA basketball coach Richard Lee Brooks, Farruh Ahmedov (Head of Scientific Department, Samarkand State University), Dr. Pinar Yaprak (Assistant Professor, Türkiye), Prof. Dr. Hanno Felder (Acting Director, Olympic Training Center), and Dr. Martin Toms (Associate Professor of Global Sport Education & Coaching, Birmingham University, UK).

Senior coaches and officials from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) will also contribute by sharing their practical experiences and strategic insights regarding the identification of young talents, establishing long-term development pathways, and preparing athletes for international competitions.

The systematic development of athletes from grassroots to elite levels necessitates structured, data-driven, and holistic frameworks. Contemporary athlete development emphasizes the integration of physiological, psychological, technical, and tactical evaluations, supported by sports science, analytics, biomechanics, and emerging technologies, while ensuring athlete well-being through mental health support, injury prevention, nutrition, recovery, and Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) models.

Key Objectives of the Conference

• Explore Talent Identification Models: Investigate scientific and global best practices for early-stage talent detection and nurturing.

• Strengthen Athlete Development Pathways: Design structured, long-term training and progression frameworks.

• Integrate Sports Science & Technology: Emphasize the significance of analytics, biomechanics, physiology, and technology in optimizing performance.

• Promote Holistic Athlete Support: Address mental health, injury prevention, nutrition, recovery, and overall athlete well-being.

• Foster Collaboration: Create a unified framework that connects grassroots initiatives with elite and high-performance systems.

Through this international conference, SAI NSNIS Patiala aspires to cultivate collaboration, foster the exchange of ideas, and construct a cohesive and future-ready roadmap for athlete development, significantly contributing to India’s Olympic aspirations for the 2036 Games.