Excelsior Sports Correspondent
DEHRADUN, Feb 9: The atmosphere at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand was electric as athletes prepared for the medal ceremonies after a thrilling day of athletics. Everyone was expecting the traditional scene – young women walking gracefully with trays of medals to honour the winners. But as the crowd cheered, something unexpected happened that would leave them in awe.
From behind the stage, a sleek, futuristic figure emerged. It wasn’t a person, but a robot-‘Molly.’ Controlled remotely, Molly glided across the floor, holding a tray full of gleaming medals. The crowd fell silent for a moment, unsure of what was happening. As the robot reached the winners, the guests stepped forward, took the medals from Molly’s tray and placed them around the necks of the victorious athletes. The robotic medal presentation was an instant sensation.
This was no ordinary innovation. ‘Molly’ was a product of collaboration between the Uttarakhand Police Drone Team and D Town Robotics, a private firm. Engineers and technicians had worked for over a month to bring this technological marvel to life. The creation was part of a broader vision introduced by Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, who wanted to incorporate technological initiatives into the National Games. He said, “Our effort is to work for sports development by taking full advantage of technology. We are constantly looking for ways to incorporate innovation and technology in every aspect of the games to elevate the experience for both athletes and spectators.”
Olympian Manish Rawat, who had seen numerous medal ceremonies, was amazed. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s incredible to see how technology is enhancing the experience for athletes and spectators alike,” he said.
Amit Sinha, CEO of the National Games, also praised the initiative. “This is a fantastic example of how technology can revolutionize the way we experience sporting events. Integrating robotic technology into the medal ceremony is just the beginning of many such innovations we aim to bring to future events. It is a step forward in modernizing the sports environment.”
The Uttarakhand Police Drone Team, led by Vipin Kumar, Deepankar Bisht and Prashant Chander, alongside engineers like Deepak Bisht, Abhishek Kumar and Prajjwal Rawat, played a crucial role in making ‘Molly’ a reality. ‘Molly’ wasn’t just a one-time experiment. It was part of a larger plan to integrate robotics and reduce human dependency, especially in events like the hammer throw, javelin throw, and discus. The success of this initiative marks a new chapter in sports technology, blending tradition with modern innovation, and setting a new standard for future National Games.
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