Gandhinagar: Gujarat has launched the country’s first state-level sports genomics programme, bringing genetic science into athlete development and performance planning. The initiative aims to study the genetic, physiological and performance characteristics of athletes across multiple sporting disciplines.
The programme gains importance as Gujarat prepares for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with scientific athlete profiling expected to support the identification and long-term preparation of high-performing athletes.
10,000 Athlete Samples Planned
Under the programme, Gujarat plans to collect and analyse around 2,000 athlete samples every year, targeting 10,000 samples over five years.
The programme will cover athletes from sports including athletics, swimming, boxing, wrestling, judo, taekwondo, gymnastics, fencing, football, hockey, basketball, badminton, table tennis, tennis, archery, shooting and chess.
Priority will be given to state and national champions, while athletes will be screened across three age groups: below 14, 14 to under 18, and above 18 years.
Gujarat Athlete Genome Database
A key component of the initiative will be the creation of the Gujarat Athlete Genome Database (G-AGD). It will integrate genetic, physiological and sports performance information to support long-term high-performance planning.
The database could help researchers and sports authorities better understand how individual athletes respond to training, nutrition, exercise and recovery.
Personalised Training and Nutrition
Sports genomics examines the relationship between genetic variations and athletic characteristics such as muscle composition, endurance, metabolism, exercise response, recovery and injury susceptibility.
The programme will explore personalised training, nutrition and recovery plans based on individual genetic traits. It will also assess genetic markers linked to injury risk, tissue repair and exercise response.
Such information could help coaches and sports experts design more individualised approaches to athlete development and recovery.
Scientists Caution Against ‘Single Sports Gene’ Idea
Scientists involved in sports genomics stress that genetic profiling alone cannot predict sporting success. Athletic performance depends on several factors, including genetics, training, nutrition, psychology and environmental support.
The programme therefore seeks to use genetic information as one component of a broader athlete-development framework rather than treating DNA as a standalone predictor of performance.
Genetic Data to Get Privacy Protection
The programme also includes safeguards for athletes’ genetic information. A two-level barcoding system will be used to protect identities and maintain data security.
The privacy measures are particularly important because the programme involves the collection and analysis of sensitive genetic information from athletes across different age groups.
Preparing Athletes Through Science
The initiative gives Gujarat a new scientific framework for athlete profiling as it prepares for major sporting opportunities, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
By combining genomics with physiological assessment, sports performance data, nutrition and training, the programme aims to support more informed decisions about athlete development.
If implemented effectively, Gujarat’s sports genomics programme could provide a long-term model for using scientific data to improve training, recovery and talent development while maintaining strong safeguards around athletes’ personal genetic information.
