Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and badminton legend Pullela Gopichand on Thursday unveiled the Indian School of Coaching Excellence (ISCE), a pioneering initiative designed to strengthen India’s coaching landscape and sports ecosystem.
The ISCE will run multidisciplinary coach‑development programmes integrating physical literacy, sports science, education, technology, and career development. It will serve as a collaborative knowledge‑sharing platform, working with government bodies, SAI, federations, high‑performance centres, academic institutions, and the private sector.
Chopra stressed the importance of coaches in shaping athletes’ journeys, saying the initiative will provide access to world‑class education, mentorship, and sports science knowledge. “Every athlete’s journey is shaped by the guidance of his/her coach. To create the next generation of sports heroes, our coaches must continue to learn and inspire,” he said.
Gopichand, a Dronacharya awardee, highlighted ISCE’s role in bringing global best practices to Indian coaching. “The future of Indian sport will be defined by the ecosystem we build. Coaches are at the heart of that ecosystem,” he noted, adding that ISCE will help coaches upskill, collaborate, and lead with confidence.
The initiative’s vision is to build a robust coaching ecosystem essential for India’s long‑term success on the world stage, ensuring that every great athlete has access to a great coach.
