To say that an athlete’s life is far from easy is an understatement in a world only focused on the glitz and glamour of superstars in the world of sports. In a developing country like India, athletes can find themselves with little to no support and guidance in their pursuit to achieve glory. 

In an exclusive interview with SPOGO, Mr. Digpal Ranawat, Director of Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance Centres , Abhinav Futuristics and Executive Director of Abhinav Bindra Sports Medicine & Research Institute speaks about working towards supporting athletes using world class technology and facilities right from the grassroots to the elite level.

How important is an athlete’s psychological safety? What are the various risks associated with it?

Most Athletes are between the ages of 12 and 25. These coincide with the most crucial phases of Human Growth, both physically and mentally. In an ecosystem that constantly strives for perfection, it can isolate and demoralize athletes that are “not up to the mark”. Other factors like social circles, parent pressure, Study-Sport Balance, etc. can cause anxiety, depression, and even severe mental illnesses in athletes that might even be performing well. Research shows that almost 1 in 4-5 young people suffer from mental illnesses, and such an atmosphere can only multiply the odds.

It is, as a result, the responsibility of coaches, administrators, parents, and support staff to create an atmosphere that doesn’t punish vulnerability, and allows a child to feel accepted, respected and safe.

What are the various initiatives being conducted by the Abhinav Bindra foundation?

The Foundation, guided by the vision of Mr. Abhinav Bindra, is dedicated to bringing Global Best Practice to the Indian Ecosystem. By creating access, contextualisation, and assistance in integration, the Foundation looks to be the support system of High Performance Sport in the country, where every stakeholder of all sports can associate with to make the most of the work they do.

Under the Pillars of Education, Intervention, and Social Upliftment, there are 5 Initiatives that the Foundation currently works on:

1) STEAM Scholarship Programme

2) Athlete Mental Wellness

3) Abhinav Bindra Sport Medicine and Research Institute

4) High Performance Leadership Course (with the ELMS Sports Foundation)

5) Make a Mark

More projects are being contemplated for which we are currently capacity building.

What is the STEAM scholarship program? How does it benefit athletes?

The STEAM Scholarship Programme is our longest running project under the Foundation, where the objective has been to provide STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Analytics, and Medicine) to Indian Grassroots Athletes that adds value to their existing Sport Training. Under this programme, athletes that have passion, potential, and a willingness to learn are taken under the project where they receive one year of free access to our ABTP Centres. Through the year, a set of goals and objectives are set with the athlete and their coach based on their assessments with the technology (That capture 0ver 30 different Physical Parameters), and a customised programme is made for them based on his/her Body Type, Sport, and objectives.

This Project helps athletes of all sports gain Physical Self Awareness – that would allow them to be more receptive to training, avoid injuries that could threaten their career, and be more consistent in their form.

What role does the Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance Centres play in the rehabilitation of athletes?

The Centres host Technology that has never been used in the country before and is in line with Global Best Practice used at the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and AS Roma as well as countless Olympic Centres across the world. This is the basis of “High-Performance Physical Training” as well as Injury Management.

The Technology assists Injury Management on two fronts – Injury Rehabilitation, and Injury Prevention. The Assessments use Digital Mirroring Technology to provide a data Driven understanding of the body’s movement, hence finding the true cause of the injury. By using this data, our expert staff can make customised programmes to heal the injury faster, manage pain, and ensure protocols to avoid there being a repeat of the injury again. With World Class devices and Techniques, Recovery Protocols and Pre-Injury Medical Screenings can ensure a potential injury point is identified and monitored before it becomes an injury.

How much of an impact has the ‘Make A Mark’ program made in the life of refugees such as Mahdi, Khaoula, and Luna?

The Project “Make a Mark” started primarily with Niccolo Campriani’s vision of giving back to society through sport. The three-time Olympic Champion partnered with the Foundation to help 3 refugees rehabilitate their lives through Sport. Khaoula, Mahdi, and Luna may have been fortunate to be in Lausanne, but they did not speak the language, had no community, and lost all sense of purpose. Through this project, not only have they found a community and purpose in sport, but they look to excel in it. Of the 3, two are eligible to be a part of the Olympic Refugee Team at the Tokyo Games! They have grown as people during this time, one of which has even had a child during this time and is now raising a family in their new home. They are steadily becoming independent, accomplished individuals and it is a joy to see them become better!

What are the different ways the Abhinav Bindra Sports Medicine and Research Institute grooming leaders in physiotherapy and sports science?

The Abhinav Bindra Sports Medicine and Research Institute was an initiative to bring affordable and world class education to those keen to explore the realm of Sport Science. Starting with Masters and Bachelors courses in Physiotherapy, the objective is to create local experts within the Sport and Healthcare ecosystem, who going forward would be able to touch the lives of many in India and across the world. With the introductions to world class technology, and guest faculty that are members of the IOC/ISSF Medical Committees, these students are receiving knowledge that puts them years ahead of their counterparts in other universities, and primes them for leading India into the already beginning data-driven age of physiotherapy!

What are your goals for the future? How do you plan to achieve them?

With many new conversations under way for expanding what we currently do, the Foundation is braced to continue pioneering Global Best Practice to Indian Sport, and ensure that it is not just Elite Athletes that gain access to the best, but also our young grassroots athletes, who would never have had such opportunities before. As the pillars become stronger and systems are more established, the objective is to begin projects that have Nation-wide Grassroots relevance and impact all that look to incorporate sport into their lives, be it for Elite Sport, Employment, or simply understanding the values of Sport. This vision of creating a Sport Culture of Excellence is not a long way away, and we are always looking to have organisations and individuals contribute to the work we do.