Samsung on Thursday announced the launch of Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2025, the latest edition of its flagship education programme in partnership with IIT Delhi, spotlighting technology-driven innovations aimed at making Indian sport more inclusive. Focused on the theme “Social Change Through Sport & Technology,” the initiative drew thousands of student entries from across the country. A key highlight was NextPlayAI, created by IIIT Pune tennis players Aadish Shelke and Bhagyashri Meena. The AI-powered platform uses video analytics and machine learning to spot athletic potential through personalized feedback, enabling high-quality coaching beyond geographic or economic limitations.
Other finalists showcased diverse inclusion-driven solutions. Shatranj Swaya Crew from Assam presented a FIDE-compliant AI tool to help visually impaired individuals play chess independently. Teams from Tamil Nadu developed Unity—a patented gamified cognitive support tool for autistic children—and SPORTS4AUTISM, a hybrid app gamifying therapy through sports. STATUSCODE200 from Uttar Pradesh built an AI-powered app to personalize sports coaching by detecting posture and skill levels. Winners received incubation support of up to ₹1 crore at IIT Delhi, along with ₹1 lakh grants, Goodwill Awards, Young Innovator Awards, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphones for the top 20 teams.
In Kolkata, sports technology start-ups and training centres see these innovations as catalysts for a decentralised sporting ecosystem. With Tier-II and Tier-III participation rising, experts believe AI-backed training and virtual coaching could reduce cost barriers for athletes in city academies and neighbourhood markets, widening access to performance analytics. Samsung said the 2025 cohort benefited from mentorship, IIT Delhi’s FITT Labs, and design-thinking workshops rooted in empathy and responsible AI. Since 2010, Solve for Tomorrow has inspired 2.9 million young innovators across 68 countries, and the company said India’s participation continues to grow each year.