Bengaluru's Smart Track Enhances Training for Indian Athletes Ahead of Asian Games 2026
Innovative Training Facilities for Athletes
The National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Bengaluru, managed by the Sports Authority of India, is emerging as a crucial training hub for middle- and long-distance runners gearing up for the Asian Games 2026.
A national coaching camp is currently in progress at the SAI facility, running until September 8. This camp, approved under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), includes notable athletes such as 800m runner Krishan Kumar, steeplechase champion Avinash Sable, high jumpers Aadarsh Ram and Supriya B, decathlete Thowfeeq N, and race walkers Manju Rani and Priyanka, as detailed in a recent press release.
All eight athletes are part of the 73-member Indian athletics team (35 men and 38 women) set to compete in the Asian Games, which will take place in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4.
In addition to the standard training facilities, the athletes benefit from a cutting-edge smart track that enables coaches to gather real-time performance metrics during their sessions.
“This technology is unique in India,” stated Suresh Kumar, Athletics Coach at SAI NCOE Bengaluru, discussing the advanced features of the track. “As athletes run, we can monitor their speed, split timings at designated gates, overall timing, stride length, and frequency—all captured in real time. This data is invaluable for their training,” Kumar added in an interview with SAI Media.
The smart track was previously utilized by medalists Dilip Mahadu Gavit and Mohammed Basil during their training for the Commonwealth Games 2026, where they secured gold and silver in the men's 100m T47 category.
According to Kumar, the ability to simulate electronic timing during practice sessions is a significant advantage. This technology provides athletes with a clearer understanding of their performance metrics.
“The athletes appreciate this feature as it allows them to access precise data based on electronic timing, not only during training but also in competitions held here,” Kumar remarked.
Installed in 2024, the smart track has been a valuable asset for elite athletes at the center. Its timing gates are strategically placed on both straightaways and curves, facilitating comprehensive analysis of various running phases. An accompanying app allows for immediate data access for further evaluation.
This system is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing athletic facilities, requiring no new track construction. Kumar noted that the magnetic gates can be embedded into any synthetic track, with installation achievable in just one day.
The SAI Bengaluru center is thus merging top-tier coaching, sports science, and technology in preparation for the Asian Games, featuring specialized coaches like race-walking expert Ronald Gerd Weigel and jumps coach Sahana Kumari Nagaraj Gobbargumpi, along with coach Kalyan Chaudhary and masseuse Meena Sagar Ugale.
The smart track also provides coaches with data that is challenging to capture manually during sprints. “We can obtain split timings even if I’m positioned 40m or 50m away from the athlete’s starting point,” Kumar explained to SAI Media.
Moreover, the embedded magnetic timing gates ensure that training sessions can continue regardless of weather conditions. Unlike traditional portable timing systems, this setup remains fixed within the track, making it usable in rain or dust.
“With this technology, we don’t have to be concerned about weather disruptions or equipment wear and tear. It’s always ready for use; athletes just need to run over it. Real-time data is consistently available,” Kumar concluded.