Anand Datla 🇮🇳

It is really encouraging to see India preparing to take a more systematic approach to grassroots talent identification. This is a welcome step, and a wonderful opportunity to build something meaningful for the future of Indian sport. As we begin this journey, I feel there are some important questions worth thinking about. Because behind every test, every assessment and every number is a young child with a dream. When we assess two 14-year-olds, are we always comparing talent, or are we sometimes comparing biological maturity? One child may be stronger, faster or better coordinated simply because they have developed earlier. How do we distinguish that temporary advantage from long-term potential? And could the child who seems less promising at 14 turn out to be exceptional at 23? Are we measuring only what a child can do today, or also their ability to learn, adapt and improve? How do we account for differences in nutrition, family circumstances and access to coaching? A child who has never received structured training may not perform as well as one who has had years of support. But does that necessarily tell us who has greater potential? Should we be tracking growth and maturation over time, so that training, recovery and injury prevention reflect how each child is developing rather than simply how old they are? And can we give grassroots coaches the knowledge and tools to recognise these differences, especially during the rapid changes of adolescence? There is also something important to consider about opportunity. If a child develops early, performs well and is selected, that child naturally receives better coaching and greater exposure. But what happens to the child who develops later? How do we make sure that one assessment doesn’t quietly close a door that might have opened a few years later? How do we keep children engaged, motivated and believing in themselves when their development takes a little longer? And how do we recognise the different needs of girls and boys, athletes with disabilities, and children pursuing different sports? Perhaps we should also follow these young athletes over the years, learning which early qualities really translate into senior excellence, why some progress while others leave sport, and how we can keep improving the decisions we make. These are not questions about what is right or wrong. They are worth asking because we have an opportunity to build this system with care, science and a real understanding of the children it is meant to serve. A child who is not the best at 14 may still have everything it takes to become extraordinary at 24. As India begins this important journey, I hope we build a system that not only recognises talent, but has the patience to nurture it, the wisdom to look beyond immediate results, and the compassion to ensure that a child’s dream is never defined by a single day of testing.