Gujarat to Use Athletes’ DNA for Talent Hunt Ahead of 2030 Commonwealth Games

Gujarat has launched a Sports Genomics Programme that will analyse athletes’ DNA alongside physiological and performance data to make talent identification and athlete development more evidence-based ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

2,000 Samples to Be Collected This Year

The programme is being implemented by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) under the Department of Science and Technology. It aims to collect around 2,000 athlete samples this year and about 10,000 samples over five years.

The initiative comes ahead of National Sports Day on August 29 and as Gujarat prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

The state has officially described it as India’s first state-level Sports Genomics Programme.

Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia said the initiative would combine genomics with sports science, physiology and nutrition to develop a more scientific approach to identifying and nurturing sporting talent.

Tennis Players First to Be Tested

GBRC has already started collecting samples, with the first batch taken from tennis players associated with the Gujarat State Tennis Association.

The next phase will cover athletes in archery, fencing, judo and shooting from the Vijayi Bharat Foundation.

The programme will use whole-genome sequencing to study genetic variations potentially associated with endurance, power, muscle composition, metabolism, exercise response, recovery and susceptibility to injuries.

Genetics Not the Sole Determinant

Officials stressed that genetics would not be treated as the sole factor determining athletic success.

Training, coaching, nutrition, infrastructure, social support and other environmental factors would also be considered while assessing athletes.

P. Bharathi, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, said the genomic data would supplement conventional talent-identification methods based on physical measurements, coaching assessments and trial performances.

The research will examine traits linked to power, endurance, injury risk and exercise response, besides areas such as nutrigenomics, lifestyle genomics, personality-related traits and circadian rhythms.

Athletes Across Multiple Sports to Be Covered

The programme is proposed to cover athletes from a wide range of disciplines, including:

• Athletics
• Swimming
• Boxing
• Wrestling
• Judo
• Taekwondo
• Gymnastics
• Fencing
• Football
• Hockey
• Handball
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Badminton
• Table tennis
• Lawn tennis
• Kabaddi
• Kho-kho
• Archery
• Shooting
• Chess

Athletes below 14, aged 14 to under 18, and above 18 are proposed to be included, with state and national champions identified as a priority group.

Gujarat Athlete Genome Database Proposed

A key component of the project is the proposed Gujarat Athlete Genome Database (G-AGD), which will bring together genetic, physiological and sporting-performance information.

The database is intended to support long-term athlete profiling and research, while genomic and physiological information could be used to explore more personalised approaches to training, nutrition and recovery.

The proposed applications include genetic profiling, evidence-based talent identification, injury-risk assessment, recovery strategies and personalised training and nutrition programmes.

No Single 'Sports Gene'

Scientists involved in the programme have stressed that there is no single “sports gene” that determines whether an athlete will succeed.

Athletic performance is influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. The programme therefore aims to use genomic information as one component of a broader athlete-assessment system, rather than replacing conventional coaching and performance evaluation.

Data Privacy Safeguards Planned

Since genetic information is highly sensitive, the programme proposes safeguards covering informed consent, data security, controlled access and responsible use.

Athlete identities are to be protected through a two-level barcoding system, with governance mechanisms expected to become increasingly important as the database expands.

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

The programme places Gujarat's sports-development strategy at the intersection of genomics, sports science and high-performance training, with the state seeking to build a scientific dataset to complement conventional coaching and performance assessment ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.