Patiala, Jan 28(.) Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala, the apex national institute for sports coaching and sports science education under the Sports Authority of India (SAI), is organising an international conference titled ‘Grassroots to Greatness: Talent Identification and Athlete Development’ on February 6-7, 2026, aligned with the nation’s long-term vision and preparation for the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.
This prestigious conference continues the annual international conference tradition initiated by SAI NSNIS Patiala in the financial year 2024–2025. The inaugural conference, ‘Harmonizing Movement: Integrating Yoga with Sports Science for Peak Performance,’ received an overwhelming response from national and international experts. Building on that success, the upcoming edition focuses on strengthening India’s athlete development ecosystem through
scientific, holistic, and sustainable approaches.
The conference is expected to witness over 550 participants from across India, including coaches, sports scientists, administrators, academicians, and students, along with 30 renowned national and international experts, making it one of the largest knowledge-sharing platforms in the field of sports development in the country.
Some of the eminent international experts set to enlighten the conference 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 actively participate, sharing their practical experiences and strategic insights in identifying young talent, building long-term development pathways, and preparing athletes for international success.
Developing athletes from grassroots to elite levels requires structured, data-driven, and holistic frameworks. Modern athlete development emphasizes the integration of physiological, psychological, technical, and tactical assessments, 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: Examine 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: Highlight the role of analytics, biomechanics, physiology, and technology in performance optimization
• Promote Holistic Athlete Support: Address mental health, injury prevention, nutrition, recovery, and athlete well-being
• Foster Collaboration: Build a unified framework connecting grassroots initiatives with elite and high-performance systems
Benefits for Participants
• Knowledge Exchange: Learn from global experts and HPDs on effective athlete development systems
• Skill Enhancement: Gain practical tools to assess, monitor, and guide athletes at various stages of development
• Networking Opportunities: Engage with policymakers, sports scientists, coaches, and administrators at national and international levels
Through this international conference, SAI NSNIS Patiala aims to foster collaboration, exchange of ideas, and the creation of a unified and future-ready roadmap for athlete development, contributing significantly to India’s Olympic aspirations for the 2036 Games.
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