The Sports Injury Centre (SIC), Safdarjung Hospital, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to establish an integrated framework for sports medicine, athlete healthcare, research and rehabilitation. The agreement aims to strengthen medical support for Indian athletes through closer collaboration between the country’s premier sports medicine institution and the national sports body.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Secretary, Department of Sports, Hari Ranjan Rao. Under the partnership, SIC and SAI will jointly work on sports injury prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, sports science, medical education, capacity building and research to improve athlete health and performance.

The collaboration will focus on developing evidence based treatment protocols, strengthening indigenous research and creating injury prevention strategies tailored to the physiology and performance needs of Indian athletes. The institutions will also undertake joint training programmes and scientific research to advance sports medicine in the country.

During the event, the Union Health Secretary said the partnership marks the beginning of a long term collaboration between the health and sports sectors. She also indicated that the Ministry would explore expanding sports medicine facilities in newer AIIMS institutions and strengthen postgraduate education to build a larger pool of sports medicine specialists.

Healthcare experts believe the collaboration will help establish a more structured sports medicine ecosystem in India by integrating specialised clinical care, research and rehabilitation services. The initiative is expected to enhance injury management, accelerate athlete recovery and support India’s preparations for future international sporting events.