Anubhav Srivastava, Head of AI at Stupa Sports Analytics, sheds light on the transformative impact of technology in sports performance analysis and management. In an exclusive interview with TimesTech, he highlights how AI and data analytics are revolutionizing player development, game strategy, and fan engagement.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: How has technology, particularly AI and data analytics, transformed the landscape of sports performance analysis and management, and what are the key benefits observed in the industry?
Mr Anubhav: Technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics, has completely revolutionized how sports performance analysis and management are approached, offering numerous advantages to the industry. These innovations allow coaches and teams to delve deeply into player performance, strategies, and injury prevention, thereby enhancing overall team performance and player development.
One significant advantage of AI and data analytics in sports is their ability to gather and analyze vast amounts of data in real-time. By utilizing sensors, wearables, and tracking devices, teams can collect data on various aspects of player performance, including speed, distance covered, heart rate, and biomechanical movements. This data provides coaches with invaluable insights into player fitness levels, workload management, and areas for improvement.
Additionally, AI-driven algorithms can analyze this data to uncover patterns, trends, and correlations that may not be immediately obvious to human coaches. For instance, AI can identify subtle changes in a player’s movement patterns that could signal an increased risk of injury or suggest modifications to training routines for optimal performance.
Another key benefit is the customization of training programs. Through AI and data analytics, coaches can tailor training programs to suit individual players based on their specific strengths, weaknesses, and injury histories. This personalized approach maximizes each player’s potential while minimizing the likelihood of overtraining or injury.
Furthermore, AI and data analytics have transformed game strategy and decision-making processes. Coaches can utilize predictive analytics to simulate various game scenarios, assess potential outcomes, and make well-informed decisions in real-time. This strategic advantage can significantly impact the outcome of matches in highly competitive sports environments.
TimesTech: How is Stupa Sports Analytics, being a sports tech startup bridging the gap between traditional sports and technology, and what unique contributions is it bringing to the table?
Mr Anubhav: Stupa Sports Analytics is playing a pivotal role in modernizing traditional sports by leveraging technology. With its comprehensive suite of solutions, Stupa addresses the needs of various stakeholders within the sports ecosystem, enriching the experiences of players, fans, federations, and rights-holders alike.
At the core of Stupa’s offerings is its B2B SaaS platform, coupled with cutting-edge AI-based tools. This platform revolutionizes the way federations and sports organizations manage their operations, offering customizable digital tournament management solutions. These solutions streamline administrative tasks such as tournament creation, registrations, and payment management. Moreover, the integrated live-streaming feature enhances fan engagement and unlocks new avenues for monetization in the B2B realm.
Stupa’s ability to consolidate media and data from tournaments creates valuable intellectual property for rights-holders. By harnessing AI technology, Stupa generates real-time statistics for live matches, empowering commentators to deliver insightful narratives backed by hard data, thereby enhancing the viewing experience for fans.
Additionally, Stupa’s AI-generated statistics serve as a valuable resource for players, enabling them to analyze their performance and identify areas for improvement. Moreover, AI is leveraged to curate highlights packages and social media reels from match footage archives, offering federations and players additional opportunities for monetization through strategic media distribution.
TimesTech: How are sports tech companies leveraging advancements like virtual reality, wearable devices, and OTT platforms to enhance fan engagement and create immersive experiences?
Mr Anubhav: Sports technology companies utilize advancements like augmented reality (AR), wearable devices, and over-the-top (OTT) platforms to enhance fan engagement and create immersive experiences. AR enhances live broadcasts by overlaying intuitive graphical representations onto live content. Stupa has implemented AR in sports like table tennis and badminton and is now exploring its use in padel and pickleball. Statistics such as game patterns, player comparisons, movement data, and posture analysis can be conveyed effectively using AR to create visualizations such as heat maps and charts, enhancing storytelling and providing a larger-than-life experience for viewers. Solutions can be customized to meet the needs of diverse audiences, allowing sports broadcasters to provide tailored experiences.
OTT platforms have significant potential to revolutionize fan viewing experiences. They can be tailored to offer highly personalized content through interactive features, enhancing engagement and fostering deeper connections between fans and their favorite players and teams. This personalized content may include behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and AI-generated highlights packages, creating a rich archive of secondary content for fans to enjoy. Innovations such as real-time stat panels for commentators provide additional points of interest, enriching the sports-watching experience. Stupa’s white-labeled OTT solutions provide these powerful features, empowering sports organizations to deliver transformative experiences to their viewers and enhancing the organization’s brand value.
The power of tech is immense, and we at Stupa believe in its ability to not only enhance the viewing experience but also to create a deeper connection between fans and the game.
TimesTech: In what ways do you envision sports technology contributing to the development of grassroots sports communities and fostering talent at the grassroots level?
Mr Anubhav: It is essential to recognize the transformative impact data & analytics can have on amateur and grassroots sports. While much attention is often given to professional leagues and elite athletes, the potential for analytics to revolutionize the grassroots level should not be overlooked.
At Stupa, we understand the importance of democratizing access to advanced analytics tools, even at the grassroots level. We are currently developing hardware camera solutions that are designed to make courts smarter and enhance the playing experience for amateur players. By capturing data on player movements, shot placements, and game dynamics, these solutions provide invaluable insights that can help amateur athletes refine their skills and compare their data with their friends.
Moreover, the use of analytics in grassroots sports extends beyond the immediate benefits for individual players. It also plays a crucial role in capturing player performance and match data from early in their careers. By documenting historical patterns, playing styles, and trends from the grassroots level, athletes can build a comprehensive profile of their development trajectory. This data serves as a valuable resource as they progress to higher levels of competition, providing coaches, scouts, and analysts with rich insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Stupa aims to achieve the above through its association with grassroots competition platforms such as Sports for All which are great opportunities for technology to integrate with grassroots and provide athletes of all backgrounds with access to the tools and insights they need to thrive.
With rapid advancements in VR tech, we are also exploring the possibilities of using VR to create immersive training experiences tailored for amateur players. In these virtual environments, players can engage in simulated matches against their favorite top-ranked athletes, offering a unique and exciting training avenue. Moreover, with the integration of virtual coaching features, players can access personalized guidance and feedback to enhance their skills and performance, without having to invest in a professional coach. Such possibilities keep us optimistic and excited about the potential that tech holds for transforming sports training and coaching in the future.
