Reading DNA, finding champions: Gujarat begins genomic talent hunt

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], August 28 (ANI): In a move that could add a new scientific dimension to athlete development, Gujarat has launched a State-level ‘sports genomics programme’ aimed at understanding the genetic, physiological and performance characteristics of its athletes. tr-sport.click

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has adopted an evidence-based approach to sports science, athlete identification and high-performance training.

“Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the initiative, being undertaken by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) under the Department of Science and Technology, seeks to combine genomics with sports science, physiology and nutrition to create a more scientific and evidence-based approach to sporting talent. Gujarat is the first state in India to launch a Sport Genomics Programme," said Arjun Modhwadia, Minister for Science and Technology, Gujarat as quoted by a press release.

Our scientists at GBRC have started collecting samples from athletes participating in different sports. The first batch of samples have been collected from tennis players from the Gujarat State Tennis Association (GSTA). The next batch of samples under the programme will be collected from athletes in archery, fencing, judo and shooting from Vijayi Bharat Foundation. A total of 2,000 samples will be collected this year for this purpose," he added.

The initiative also assumes significance in the context of Gujarat’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Scientific athlete profiling could potentially support efforts to identify and prepare athletes capable of competing at national and international levels.

Sport genomics is an emerging field that studies the relationship between genetic variations and athletic characteristics such as muscle composition, endurance, metabolism, exercise response, recovery and injury susceptibility.

The proposed Gujarat programme recognises that sporting performance is not determined by genetics alone. Training, coaching, nutrition, infrastructure, social support and other environmental factors also play important roles in an athlete’s development.

-Beyond traditional talent identification

“Traditional talent identification generally relies on physical measurements, coaching assessments and performance during trials. Gujarat’s proposed model seeks to add genetic and biological information to this process, providing a more comprehensive picture of an athlete," said P Bharathi, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology.

“The programme proposes studying traits associated with power, endurance, injury risk and exercise response, along with areas such as nutrigenomics, lifestyle genomics, personality-related traits and circadian rhythms," P Bharathi added.

“A key component will be whole-genome sequencing of talented athletes, particularly those involved in endurance, power and other sporting categories. Researchers will attempt to identify and validate genetic markers associated with athletic performance and examine genetic factors that could be linked to sports injuries," said Digvijaysinh Jadeja, Mission Director, Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission.

-10,000 samples over five years

The programme envisages screening leading athletes from a wide range of sporting disciplines. It proposes approximately 2,000 samples every year for whole-genome sequencing and analysis, resulting in around 10,000 samples over five years.

The sporting disciplines identified include athletics, swimming, boxing, wrestling, judo, taekwondo, gymnastics and fencing. Team and ball sports such as football, hockey, handball, volleyball and basketball are also covered, along with badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis, kabaddi and kho-kho.

Precision- and skill-based disciplines, including archery, shooting and chess, are also part of the broader plan.

Athletes from different age groups are proposed to be covered, including those below 14, those aged 14 to under 18, and athletes above 18. State and national champions are identified as a priority group, providing an opportunity to study the genetic and physiological characteristics of high-performing athletes.

-Creating Gujarat Athlete Genome Database

An important outcome of the initiative is the proposed Gujarat Athlete Genome Database (G-AGD). The database would integrate genetic, physiological and performance information, creating a long-term scientific resource for athlete profiling and future research.

The programme also envisages using genomic information to explore personalised training and nutrition strategies. Since athletes can respond differently to exercise, training loads, recovery and nutrition, combining genetic information with physiological and performance data could help develop more individualised athlete-development programmes.

The proposed outcomes include genetic profiling, evidence-based talent identification, injury-risk assessment, improved recovery strategies, and personalised training and nutrition programmes. Bioinformatics analysis could also be used to develop genotype-based performance prediction models.

-Sporting performance is complex characteristic

However, according to scientists involved in the project, the programme does not suggest that a single “sports gene" can determine athletic success. Sporting performance is a complex characteristic influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. The objective is therefore to use genetics as one component of a broader athlete-assessment framework.

-Building a sports biotechnology hub

The programme could also strengthen Gujarat’s position in sports biotechnology. One of its broader objectives is to establish the State as a “Sports Biotechnology Innovation Hub", linking its biotechnology capabilities with sports science and elite athlete development.

GBRC already has scientific infrastructure for sample processing, sequencing and data analysis, including platforms such as NovaSeq 6000, GridION and PromethION, Illumina iScan for genotyping, Illumina DRAGEN and high-performance computing facilities.

-Privacy and ethical safeguards

Genetic information is highly sensitive, making secure storage, controlled access and responsible use is essential. The proposed programme includes measures to protect athlete identities through a two-level barcoding system. Ensuring informed consent, data security and clear governance mechanisms will be important as the programme progresses. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming U19 series against Australia. Interestingly, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was the Player of the Match in the U19 World Cup final earlier in the year, has been dropped. He recently made his senior India debut and was one of the key performers in the series against Zimbabwe. However, that wasn’t the reason behind his exclusion.

London [UK], August 28 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after it aired an interview with the sons of former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan during the lunch interval of the second Test against England at Lord’s.

As per Cricinfo, PCB is considering the option of Pakistan players not taking to the field after the break as a mark of protest. Former England cricketer and Sky broadcaster Michael Atherton did the interview. During the interview, Imran’s sons, Suleiman and Kasim Khan, expressed their fears and concerns over their father’s health and life, as he has been in prison for three years.

The PCB is understood to have got in touch with Sky ahead of the lunch break to protest and threatened that players would not return to the field post-lunch if the interview was aired. While Sky initially delayed the interview, it ran the 18-minute footage anyway. By the time it ended, Pakistan players were preparing to make it to the field for the post-lunch session at 2:40 PM local time.

Atherton conducted the interview on Wednesday at the Lord’s Writers’ Room, with the broadcaster running a teaser ahead of the Test match. In Pakistan, the match’s broadcaster, PTV, did not show the interview.

Imran’s health has been a topic of massive scrutiny in Pakistan over the last few weeks, with his sons demanding proper health care for the legendary cricketer and former PM. Last week, the country’s Supreme Court ordered that he be shifted to Islamabad’s Shifa Hospital. But he was taken to state-run PIMS and returned to prison just after his check-up. His sisters and sons have made serious allegations about the court order violation, demanding that Imran be allowed to see his personal doctor.

Twenty-two former international cricket captains have written another letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, renewing their appeal for medical treatment of former ODI World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan following recent developments that they say fall short of a Supreme Court directive, according to Cricinfo.

The letter was signed by Michael Atherton, Alex Blackwell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Alastair Cook, Michael Gatting, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Lee Germon, Adam Gilchrist, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Arjuna Ranatunga, Andrew Strauss, Dilip Vengsarkar, Steve Waugh and John Wright.

It was a follow-up to a previous letter 14 captains had written back in February, which received no reply from the Pakistan government.

At the end of day 1, England was 248/9, with a four-wicket haul from Mohammed Abbas and a three-wicket haul from Mohammed Abbas keeping Pakistan in control after they opted to bowl first. Half-centuries from Jamie Smith (61) and Jordan Cox (55) were the saving graces for England’s batting. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

[popcorn number="153.84" desc="Richa Ghosh’s strike-rate in the T20 Women’s World Cup last month — the second best for India after all-rounder Deepti Sharma (171.42)" class="Default"]

Though Sri Lanka are the defending Women’s T20 Asia Cup champions, Harmanpreet Kaur-led India are strong contenders to win their fourth title, reckons former India all-rounder Reema Malhotra. The sixth edition of the tournament, to be held in Dubai from August 28 to September 13, begins today.

However, Malhotra wants India to adopt a fearless approach, and for this, she believes the team management should promote attacking batter Richa Ghosh to No. 3. Wicketkeeper-batter Ghosh has scored 1,333 runs at a strike rate of 144.57 in 88 T20Is, mostly batting at Nos. 5 to 7.

Reema Malhotra

“If you want to play fearless cricket, you must send a fearless batter up. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana should be our openers. We should go with Richa Ghosh at No. 3. Harman will bat at No. 4, then we have Deepti Sharma at No. 5, followed by Bharti Fulmali. Our batting order will look good when you have two power-hitters on top, Richa and Shafali, and Bharti at the bottom. Why does Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner come in at No. 3? Because she can change the scenario of a match. Currently, Richa’s mindset is, ‘I want to play 10-15 balls.’ The day her mindset changes to that of a No. 3 batter, her scores of 15, 20 and 25 will convert to 70, 80 and 100. Before going to this Asia Cup, Harman and [head coach] Amol Muzumdar’s role will be to give role clarity to their players. I didn’t see that in the recent T20 World Cup [where India failed to make the last four] in England,” Malhotra, 45, told mid-day on Thursday, during an interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.

India begin their campaign against Thailand on Sunday and play arch-rivals Pakistan on September 5.

Malhotra, who played one Test, 41 ODIs, and 22 T20Is between 2003 and 2013, admitted that the intensity always rises when playing against Pakistan. “I won’t lie. There’s always a bit of anger inside that you have to defeat them. When you play Sri Lanka or China, people say ‘all the best,’ but when you play Pakistan, everyone says, ‘you have to defeat them’. So, the body language changes and when the intensity is high, it’s fun to defeat Pakistan,” said Malhotra, a former middle-order batter and leg-spinner, who played her last ODI and T20I against Pakistan.

Malhotra believes India’s spin attack, led by Deepti Sharma, will be a big plus in the UAE.

“Sri Lanka won the 2024 Asia Cup, but we’re playing better cricket than Sri Lanka. In the T20 World Cup too, our performance was better. We should look to dominate,” she signed off.