- ByStartupStory | February 19, 2024
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has appointed Ramesh Kumar, former ESPN vice president, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA). This move is aimed at fostering innovation in sports technology.
CESSA at IIT Madras aims to be a global platform dedicated to advancing sports technology, delivering products and solutions to enhance athlete performance, and promoting general fitness and health. According to a press release issued by the institute, CESSA will also create and deliver products and solutions across media platforms and work with sporting federations and bodies to increase fan engagement.
Ramesh Kumar, an alumnus of IIT Madras, brings over three decades of industry experience, including close to 24 years in the sports industry. He has played a key role in driving digital leadership, innovation, and growth for ESPNcricinfo.
Speaking about his vision for CESSA, Ramesh Kumar said, “I am excited to join the Center and leverage the deep tech knowledge and domain strengths in the fields of AI, ML, data science, IoT/sensors, computer vision technology and bio mechanical analysis to envision solutions and products for sportspersons, general athletes, media platforms, sports fans, sporting federations and players in the sports education domain.”
The Center will also establish an incubator ecosystem for sport tech start-ups, supported by interdisciplinary faculties specializing in modeling, data science, IoT, AI, wearables, and biomechanics. Additionally, CESSA will provide sports science and education courses, along with coaching products for students and coaches through collaborations leveraging IIT Madras’ credibility and expertise.
Prof Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations) at IIT Madras, and the Head of CESSA, welcomed Ramesh Kumar, emphasizing that his industry experience aligns with the institute’s commitment to being at the forefront of sports technology.
Supported by the ‘Institute of Eminence’ initiative of the Government of India, IIT Madras aims to incubate 25 sports tech start-ups annually through CESSA. The Center, housed in a state-of-the-art indoor sports facility, will serve as a test bed for piloting sports technology.
CESSA has already initiated collaborations with leading institutes, including the Sports Authority of India, National Center for Sports Science Research, Inspire Institute of Sports, Northwestern University, and the University of Birmingham.
