'Mauli Robot' takes centre stage, bringing a futuristic twist to National Games Medal Ceremony

The 38th National Games in Uttarakhand witnessed a fantastic moment on Saturday as a robot named "Mauli" took centre stage during the athletics medal ceremony. Instead of the traditional presentation by young women, Mauli, controlled remotely, gracefully carried a tray of medals to the dignitaries, who then placed them around the winners' necks. This innovative approach left athletes and spectators alike pleasantly surprised.

The robotic initiative, a first for the National Games, was introduced by the host state Uttarakhand. While other events continued with the traditional medal presentation, Mauli Robot is slated to play a significant role in most of the 40 athletics events, as confirmed by Sports Director Prashant Arya.

This technological marvel was the brainchild of the Uttarakhand Police's drone team, who collaborated with D-Town Robotics, a private firm. Team members Vipin Kumar, Deepankar Bisht, Prashant Chandra, Deepak Bisht, Abhishek Kumar, and Prajwal Rawat dedicated approximately one and a half months to developing Mauli. Beyond medal delivery, another robot also assisted with the discus throw event, showcasing the diverse applications of robotics in the Games.

Olympian Manish Rawat expressed his amazement, stating that he had never witnessed a robot used in a medal ceremony before. The initiative aligns with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's vision to incorporate technological innovations into the National Games.

"The Chief Minister had instructed that technological innovations should be a part of the National Games. That's why we introduced this experiment with robotic technology. In athletics events like hammer throw, javelin throw, and discus throw, we are also using robotic technology to reduce human dependency." explained Amit Sinha, CEO of the National Games.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized the importance of leveraging new technology to advance sports. "Apart from the athletes' outstanding performances, the 38th National Games is showcasing many innovative initiatives to the entire nation. Technological advancements are now becoming a part of the National Games. Our goal is to leverage new technology to develop sports." he said.

The use of robots in the medal ceremony and other athletic events signals a new era for the National Games, demonstrating Uttarakhand's commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology in the world of sports.