NEW DELHI: Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra and renowned badminton coach Pullela Gopichand have joined hands to launch the Indian School of Coaching Excellence (ISCE), an initiative aimed at developing a pool of homegrown, world-class coaches and strengthening India’s sports ecosystem.ISCE will offer multidisciplinary coach development programmes covering areas beyond technical training, including sports science, physical literacy, technology, sports education and career development. It will also work with govt bodies, the Sports Authority of India, federations, academic institutions and high-performance centres.“Coaches are at the heart of the ecosystem,” Gopichand said. “ISCE is our effort to create a platform that combines global best practices with Indian experience, enabling coaches to continuously upskill and collaborate.”Chopra, who founded the Neeraj Chopra Foundation (NCF), said access to quality coaching was critical to producing the next generation of Indian athletes.“Every athlete’s journey is shaped by the guidance and nurturing of their coach. It is extremely important that our coaches have access to world-class education, mentorship and the latest knowledge in sports science and athlete development,” he added.The foundation, along with Gopichand’s Badminton Gurukul and AISTS INDIA, is behind the initiative, which seeks to create a structured platform for continuous learning and knowledge-sharing among coaches.Himani Mor, Managing Director, VEL Sports Management, said, “We are delighted to partner with AISTS INDIA and Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy on an initiative that we truly believe can be a game changer for the future of Indian sport. The Indian School of Coaching Excellence will give coaches access to new-age knowledge, global best practices and evolving approaches to athlete development, enabling them to bring that learning to the next generation of talent.”“For the young athletes who dream of representing India and making the country proud, having coaches who are continually learning, adapting and striving for excellence can make all the difference. Through ISCE, we at the Neeraj Chopra Foundation hope to contribute to a stronger coaching ecosystem that can nurture the champions of tomorrow and help India realise its full sporting potential,” she added.The initiative comes amid the govt’s broader push to build domestic coaching capacity and create a stronger support system for India’s long-term sporting ambitions.
