SAI NSNIS Patiala’s ‘Grassroots to Greatness’ Conference Targets India’s Olympic Future

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. The two-day conference will be graced by Hon'ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse.

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.

The conference will focus on strengthening athlete development systems by examining global best practices in talent identification and early-stage nurturing. Sessions will explore structured, long-term training pathways that support athletes from grassroots levels to elite and high-performance environments.

A strong emphasis will be placed on the role of sports science and technology, including analytics, biomechanics and performance data, in optimising training and decision-making. The programme will also highlight holistic athlete support, covering mental health, injury prevention, nutrition, recovery and overall well-being.

The conference aims to foster collaboration across the sporting ecosystem by connecting policymakers, coaches, sports scientists and administrators, creating a more unified framework for athlete development. Participants will benefit from knowledge-sharing with global experts, practical tools for monitoring athlete progress, and networking opportunities at national and international levels.

Through this initiative, SAI NSNIS Patiala hopes to contribute to a future-ready roadmap for athlete development, aligned with India's long-term Olympic ambitions, including the 2036 Games.