Anil Kumble, Co-founder of TENVIC Sports, speaks at the launch of the first phase of its academic programmes to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem in Manipal on Wednesday.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), in collaboration with TENVIC Sports, has launched the first phase of its academic programmes to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem through integrated education and athlete development.

As part of this initiative, MAHE and TENVIC Sports have introduced specialised academic courses in ‘Business of Sports’, ‘Data Acquisition and Analytics’, and ‘Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Sports’.

These programmes will equip students and working professionals with academic knowledge and practical skills to build successful careers in the rapidly expanding sports industry. The institutions plan to introduce additional courses in ‘Sports Coaching’, ‘Sports Sciences’, and ‘Sports Media’ in the near future.

A media statement said that these MAHE-TENVIC offerings are accessible through the MAHE Plus portal, which delivers microcredentials and certificate programmes in online, blended, and face-to-face formats. The platform enables learners to gain industry-relevant skills from expert faculty while earning recognised certifications for career advancement.

To further strengthen the sports ecosystem, MAHE and TENVIC Sports will establish High-Performance Centres at the MAHE campuses in Manipal and Bengaluru. These centres will provide elite athletes with access to coaching, sports science support, and residential training facilities while enabling them to pursue academic programmes through affiliated schools, colleges, and universities on campus.

The centres will initially focus on four sporting disciplines, with plans to expand to nearly a dozen sports over time. MAHE and TENVIC Sports have strategically selected these disciplines based on their potential for international success and the availability of structured professional leagues, creating pathways for both athletic excellence and sustainable sports careers.

Over time, MAHE and TENVIC Sports plan to expand these academic offerings into full-fledged undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to build a sustainable talent pipeline that supports India’s ambition to emerge as a global sporting powerhouse.

Quoting HS Ballal, Pro Chancellor of MAHE, the statement said: “MAHE’s collaboration with TENVIC underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in higher education. By preparing the next generation of professionals -- on the field and across India’s sports ecosystem -- we are contributing to a fitter nation and a stronger sports culture.”

Lt Gen MD Venkatesh, VSM (Retd), Vice Chancellor of MAHE, said: “Through the TENVIC-MAHE High-Performance Centres, we are ending that era by blending elite training with flexible and meaningful academic learning that accommodates athletes’ demanding schedules. This dual pathway secures their futures on and off the field, transforms talent development, and builds a sustainable future for athletes.”

Anil Kumble, Co-founder of TENVIC Sports, said: “Today marks a red-letter day in Indian Sports where we address a critical industry reality: India’s sports ecosystem faces a severe shortage of competent, industry-ready professionals driven by the growth of professional leagues, sports startups, and demand for qualified coaches. The TENVIC-MAHE programmes bridge this skill gap. This long-term talent pipeline will systematically equip many to sustainably power India’s sporting growth for decades.”

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Published on April 29, 2026