The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in sports science, sports medicine, athlete rehabilitation, research, innovation, education, and capacity building. The agreement brings together India’s apex sports body and a premier sports hospital to create an integrated framework for athlete care. The MoU was signed in the presence of Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
What Does the MoU Cover?
The MoU establishes a structured partnership between SAI and SIC to combine their expertise, infrastructure, and scientific capabilities. The core objective is to provide comprehensive support for Indian athletes and their support staff through an integrated approach.
The collaboration will focus on promoting evidence-based sports science and medical practices. This means that treatments, rehabilitation protocols, and training methods will be grounded in scientific research and clinical data rather than tradition or convenience alone. The partnership will facilitate multidisciplinary research that brings together experts from sports science, orthopaedics, physiotherapy, biomechanics, and nutrition.
Athlete injury prevention and rehabilitation are central to the agreement. SIC, with its advanced surgical and rehabilitative infrastructure, will handle clinical interventions while SAI will manage applied sports science rehabilitation and return to play protocols. The partnership also aims to enhance performance optimisation through scientific interventions such as motion analysis, strength and conditioning programmes, and physiological monitoring.
On the education and capacity building front, the two institutions will collaborate on training programmes for coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists, and medical professionals. They will work on standardised clinical and sports science protocols and facilitate knowledge exchange between their respective teams.
The Two Institutions: SAI and SIC
Sports Authority of India (SAI)
SAI was established in 1984 as a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, following the legacy of the IX Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1982. It functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and is headquartered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex in New Delhi.
SAI is the apex national sports body of India, tasked with the twin objectives of promoting sports and achieving sporting excellence at the national and international level. It operates 12 regional centres, over 20 National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), and more than 180 training centres across the country. SAI is responsible for implementing flagship government schemes including Khelo India, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the Fit India Movement. The Sports Science Division of SAI, earlier known as the National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR), was represented at the signing by its Executive Director, Brig. (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak.
Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC)
Safdarjung Hospital, where the SIC is located, was founded in 1942 as a base hospital for the Allied forces during the Second World War. It was taken over by the Government of India in 1954 and is now under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is one of the largest multi-disciplinary tertiary care hospitals in Asia, affiliated with Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC).
The Sports Injury Centre at Safdarjung Hospital was established as a separate department in 2008 and inaugurated in September 2010 by the then Prime Minister, just ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010 held in New Delhi. It is a unique, one-of-its-kind facility in India dedicated entirely to sports-related injuries and joint disorders.
The SIC was significantly upgraded and relocated to a new seven-storey building spread over 1.8 acres in January 2024. It now has 7 operation theatres (up from 3), 157 beds (up from 42), and state-of-the-art equipment including a hydrotherapy pool, underwater treadmill, isokinetic testing systems, 3D motion analysis (gait analysis) , and a dedicated biomechanics lab. The centre provides integrated diagnostic, surgical, and rehabilitative services for sports injuries, including arthroscopic or keyhole surgeries. Dr. Deepak Joshi serves as the Director of SIC and signed the MoU on behalf of the centre.
Why This Partnership Matters
The MoU addresses a long-standing gap in India’s sports ecosystem. Historically, elite athletes requiring medical attention had to navigate a fragmented system where sports science, clinical care, and rehabilitation operated in silos. A sprinter recovering from a hamstring tear, for instance, might receive surgery at one facility, physiotherapy at another, and return to training guidance from a coach with no medical input. The result was often incomplete recovery, re-injury, or premature end to careers.
By formally linking SAI’s sports science and coaching infrastructure with SIC’s clinical and surgical expertise, the partnership creates a seamless continuum of care. Athletes referred by SAI will receive priority treatment at SIC, continuous clinical management, and a structured pathway back to competition. This model mirrors the integrated athlete support systems seen in leading sporting nations.
The partnership is especially significant for athletes from rural and economically weaker backgrounds who cannot afford the high costs of private sports medicine facilities. Since SIC is a government hospital, treatment is accessible and affordable. The upgraded SIC already sees 350 to 400 patients daily in its outpatient department, with footfall expected to double.
Aligned with the Government’s Sports Vision
The MoU aligns with the broader government vision of building a scientifically enabled, athlete-centric, and globally competitive sporting ecosystem in India. It complements several flagship initiatives:
| Initiative | Focus Area | Launched |
|---|---|---|
| Khelo India | Grassroots talent identification, sports infrastructure, mass participation | 2016-17 |
| Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) | Elite athlete support for Olympics and Paralympics | September 2014 |
| Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 | Comprehensive sports policy for grassroots-to-elite development | July 2025 |
| Fit India Movement | Promoting fitness as a daily habit across the population | 2019 |
The partnership also supports India’s long-term aspiration under Viksit Bharat@2047 to establish itself as a leading sporting nation. India has set targets of becoming a top-10 sporting nation by 2036 and a top-5 nation by 2047. The country has won the bid to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and has also bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. Building world-class athlete support systems through institutional partnerships such as this MoU is critical to achieving these ambitions.
Key Takeaways
- The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC) signed an MoU to collaborate on sports science, sports medicine, athlete rehabilitation, research, innovation, education, and capacity building.
- SAI, established in 1984, is the apex national sports body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, headquartered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
- SIC is a one-of-its-kind government facility at Safdarjung Hospital, upgraded in January 2024 with 7 operation theatres, 157 beds, a hydrotherapy pool, and a biomechanics lab.
- The MoU was signed in the presence of Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), and Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare).
- The partnership complements flagship government initiatives including Khelo India, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , and supports the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
- India aims to become a top-10 sporting nation by 2036 and a top-5 nation by 2047, with bids to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and the Olympic Games 2036.
