‘Sports Science Centre’ to Give Madhya Pradesh a New National Identity

Aug 2025 : Bhopal is set to emerge as the national hub of Sports Science and High-Performance Training. The Department of Sports is setting up a state-of-the-art Sports Science and High-Performance Centre at Sports City, Nathu Barkheda, with an investment of around Rs. 25 crore. Equipped with the latest sports technologies and scientific research, the centre will support athletes not only in enhancing physical abilities but also in strengthening mental resilience, preventing injuries, and improving overall performance. 

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, who has a deep personal interest in sports and is dedicated to engaging youth in athletic activities, believes that in today’s competitive era, traditional training alone is not enough to ensure success—athletes must also benefit from scientific methods and modern technologies. The establishment of the Sports Science and High-Performance Centre in Bhopal is a reflection of this vision.

Experts emphasise that many sports require focused attention and a scientific approach. Often, talented athletes fail to achieve their goals due to technical shortcomings, psychological pressure, or injuries. Today, skills and good coaching alone are not enough. At the international level, athletes must work on every aspect that affects their performance — such as psychology, nutrition, and biomechanics. Recognising this need, Bhopal is setting up a large-scale Sports Science Centre.

Key Features of Sports Science Centre

The Sports Science Centre will be the first model of its kind in the country, where integrated training in physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, psychology, biochemistry and nutrition will be available within a single campus.

State-of-the-art laboratories and units are being established at the centre for athletes. These include a Physiology Lab equipped for VO2 max testing and body composition analysis, and a Biomechanics Lab featuring motion capture, gait analysis, and force-plate testing. Additionally, a Psychology Unit will focus on enhancing athletes’ mental resilience and managing stress and anxiety. A Nutrition and Biochemistry Support Unit will also be set up, providing blood marker testing and scientific diet support to monitor athletes’ performance. Furthermore, a Recovery Suite will be made available for athletes, offering hydrotherapy, cryotherapy and physiotherapy facilities.

Scientists, psychologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, and data analysts will create individual athlete profiles and design personalised training programs tailored to their strengths, weaknesses, and requirements.

The Sports Science Centre will not only enhance the performance of Madhya Pradesh’s athletes in international competitions such as the Olympics and Asian Games, but also support emerging talent across the state by providing access to scientific training. This initiative will establish Bhopal as the national hub of Sports Science and contribute to India’s long-term strategy of becoming a global sporting power.