DR Gl Khanna talks to Rachita Malhotra about launching Manav Rachna Sports Science Center and the growing sports culture
What is the purpose of launching Manav Rachna Sports Science CentreIJ
The aim is to make it a high-end sport scientific support system. Despite all the facilities, we lack in scientific guidance. We’ve excellent facilities of shooting in Manav rachna, shooters from outside also have been coming here but only thing that we lack in the training was scientific guidance. Thus, we’ve come up with a Sports Science Centre and develop it into a world class centre soon.
What is the roleIJ
It deals with improving the performance of sportspersons scientifically. Every action that an athlete takes is guided by a sports scientist. From analysing the genes of an athlete, reason for the injury and its recovering, the nutrient capacity and fatigue level, to regulating the level of tension during performance, sports sciences plays a big role in understanding and dealing with the sportsperson’s performance. It also deals with how and when to react to a situation, which is an essential part of training of an athlete.
Tell us about the courses IJ
We provide various courses, sports physiotherapy, sports nutrition, courses in fitness another course that we are soon going to start is biomechanic nutrition. The aim is to develop sports education in India.
What are the job prospectsIJ
There are a lot of sports medical centres opening in various hospitals which require sports physiotherapists and nutritionists. Moreover, athletes are hiring personal trainers, nutritionists and sports scientist. Various sports tournaments and team like Indian Premier league hire a panel of sports advisers. In fact, the match doesn’t start without medical supervisors and sports mentors. This culture is making its presence felt in the sports industry. Even the Government is taking measures and supporting this sector. Earlier when an athlete got injured, he had to visit a doctor. Now, he is supposed to visit a sports physiotherapist or a scientist.
Any scholarshipIJ
People from the sports background already have quotas and other schemes. We always encourage such students, as they excel in sports as well as sports science. Besides them, Manav Rachna provides scholarships to the meritorious students. Students already playing some sort of sports in Manav Rachna also gets scholarship if they perform well for continuing their passion.
What about collaborations IJ
We’ve signed MoUs with various institutes for teacher exchange programmes to train the students. Recently, we had an Indo-Japan conclave in which 14 experts from Japan interacted with our students. Since sports science field has not developed in India, we need a lot of support from other countries. Thus we have got teachers from South Africa, Malaysia, Japan and Ukraine.
How is the sports industry shaping up todayIJ
Sports industry as a purpose of business is increasing. Earlier, if a person wanted to become a sportsperson, al he had to do was buy a pair of shoes. All that has changed now. The process is different. Sports people now maintain nutritional status, hire a nutritionist, a trainer and take supplements to maintain themselves. Due to this, the supplement industry is also booming as every second person now takes health supplements. Even the dresses and costumes used for playing different sports varies, and also takes up as a fashion trend in today’s youth.
What are the ways through which one can develop the sports cultureIJ
It should be inculcated at an early age starting from the school where the focus even today is more on academics and not on extra-curricular. I’ve seen teachers taking up sports classes just to finish their syllabus, which is wrong. Parents should also realise importance of sports.
In other countries, parents take their child for various adventurous activities on weekends, whereas in India, neither parents do any activity nor do they let their child do it. We should encourage the culture of walking more, the infrastructure of schools and other buildings can be made in such a way that makes people walk more.