Axis Bank and GoSports Foundation Establish Performance Institute to Strengthen India's Sports Science Capabilities

Axis Bank, among India's leading private sector banks, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with GoSports Foundation to create Axis Bank-GoSports Foundation 'The Performance Institute' (AGTPI), marking an unprecedented effort to strengthen India's sports science infrastructure and foster innovation within the sporting ecosystem.

The institute will be based at Bengaluru's state-of-the-art Centre for Sports Excellence (CSE), where it will concentrate on enhancing athlete performance, identifying emerging talent, expanding India's sports science and medical capabilities, and conducting research and analytics specifically centered on Indian athletes.

Under the partnership structure, Axis Bank will provide Corporate Social Responsibility grants to fund the institute's establishment and development, while GoSports Foundation will manage day-to-day operations, oversee programme delivery, and nurture strategic collaborations.

The Performance Institute operates on three foundational pillars: People, Analytics, and Research.

Through its People pillar, the institute will cultivate India's sports science workforce by offering training schemes, fellowships, mentoring initiatives, and career advancement opportunities. This effort aims to strengthen the cadre of skilled professionals working within national sports federations, training academies, and elite performance centers across the country.

The Analytics pillar will create a comprehensive athlete testing and evaluation facility equipped to conduct performance assessments, biomechanical studies, recovery analysis, injury-risk evaluation, and scientifically-informed performance optimization. Additionally, the institute intends to develop performance benchmarking databases specific to Indian athletes across various sports and population segments.

The Research pillar will generate homegrown sports science insights through practical research initiatives, technological breakthroughs, partnerships with industry and academic institutions, and mechanisms for disseminating findings. It aims to produce evidence-grounded strategies that benefit individual athletes while simultaneously advancing the discipline of sports science nationally.

Vijay Mulbagal, Group Head of Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR at Axis Bank, stated that India's athletic aspirations are entering a critical juncture. He noted that beyond talent identification and training, sustained international success demands a robust domestic framework encompassing sports science and medicine. Mulbagal highlighted that despite India's growing athletic achievements, the country continues to depend significantly on international performance data that may not fully account for the specific requirements and circumstances of Indian competitors. He expressed Axis Bank's commitment to collaborating with GoSports Foundation to establish an organization capable of synthesizing data, investigation, analytics, and specialized knowledge to construct a comprehensive domestic sports science infrastructure.

Nandan Kamath, Managing Trustee at GoSports Foundation, emphasized that the partnership reflects a mutual conviction that sporting excellence rests upon solid institutional structures. He underscored that elite athletes develop within exceptional frameworks supported by skilled personnel, intellectual resources, and ongoing advancement.

Saugato Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer of GoSports Foundation, expressed gratitude to Axis Bank for supporting the foundation's demonstrated achievements and future vision for India's sports sector. He indicated plans to roll out initiatives under The Performance Institute designed to unlock India's competitive capacity at all levels, from grassroots participation to international medal contention.

Vivek Kumar, Founder and Promoter of the Centre for Sports Excellence, noted that CSE was established to furnish athletes with conditions conducive to peak performance. He stated that AGTPI enhances this environment by introducing cutting-edge sports science capabilities, athlete assessment infrastructure, and investigation facilities, and acknowledged Axis Bank and GoSports Foundation for selecting CSE as the institute's location.

The collaboration represents a convergence of sustained institutional backing, specialized capabilities, and mutual dedication to establishing a comprehensive domestic sports science framework aimed at fostering athlete development and enhancing performance standards across Indian sport.