Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) the other said that the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to revolutionise cricket broadcasting with the introduction of Player Tracking Technology in its 10th edition.

This innovation will enhance the viewing experience for fans by providing detailed, ball-by-ball insights into various aspects of the game.

The state-of-the-art system will monitor players’ movements on the field, including fielders’ coordinates, bowlers’ run-ups, and batters’ stances. The gathered data will be analyzed and displayed as statistical graphics on-screen, offering fans a dynamic understanding of each delivery.

How Technology helps sports

We have all heard the English phrase ‘Quantum Leap,’ which means, in simple terms, a big change. Well! For those unaware amongst us, the term has a scientific origin. In Physics, a quantum leap is the abrupt change of a particle from one state to another (within an atom). That brings us to today’s topic, the fascinating world of Quantum Mechanics and its impact on sports.

QM, along with the power of AI, are on the verge of bringing about a technological revolution witnessed like never before.

Most of us have a general idea about AI-based applications and the changes they’re already bringing into our daily lives, particularly in sports. We can witness AI-impacted sports all around us. Whether it’s trendy fitness tracking watches or other smart wearables monitoring athletes’ heartbeats, BP, hydration or muscle fatigue, AI has a device for everything. AI-assisted videos play a very crucial role when conducting post-match analysis. They enable coaches, for instance, to carry out detailed player dissection through frame-by-frame replays.

Other areas where AI is re-shaping the sports world include: AI data is used to predict statistical probability or likelihood of sports injuries and thus take measures to prevent such events from happening. AI-simulated game activities to train teams against opponents where opponents’ weak point data and other strategic information may be fed in AI-assisted simulation software along with integrated hardware in preparation for teams to better face their opponents in real-life situations.

AI driven systems are taking us to a point where most sports would not require referees to supervise matches and an unbiased AI-assisted decision would have the final say.

AI-based systems are already reshaping the very fabric of sports. However, though revolutionary in its own right, it is just the tip of the iceberg. Quantum technology and the power it holds within, once implemented, will make the current progress in sports look like a “warm-up before the real game begins”.

Before discussing the awesome anticipated impact of Quantum on sports, let’s digress a bit from sports and dwell on some of the basic concepts of the Quantum phenomena. Quantum, the singular form of quanta, is the smallest discrete unit of any physical entity. For example, a quantum of light is a photon, and a quantum of electricity is an electron. Quantum comes from the Latin word meaning an amount or how much.

German physicist Max Planck introduced the modern concept of quantum in physics in 1901. Instead of assuming that the energy from heat was emitted in a constant wave, he postulated that the energy was emitted in discrete packets or bundles, termed quanta of energy. This led him to the discovery of Planck’s constant, which is a fundamental universal value. Planck’s constant relates the energy in one photon to the frequency of the photon. The discovery of quanta and the quantum nature of subatomic particles led to the birth of quantum physics.

Moving fast forward to the present era, we find that Quantum postulations are not mere theories any more. Quantum mechanics principles are now at the threshold of being applied practically in ways unimaginable. Emerging Quantum Technologies include: Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Entanglement, Quantum Cryptography and Cybersecurity, Quantum Sensors, Quantum Materials, Quantum Sports and so on.

From the above list, let us take Quantum Computers as an example, as it best explains the basic concepts of Quantum mechanics.

What sets quantum computers far ahead of even the fastest of today’s classical computer systems? Quantum Computers are radically different to our classical computers. Unlike classical computing, which relies on binary systems, quantum computing uses quantum bits, known otherwise as qubits, to perform tasks too complex for classical computers to handle. They also use quantum phenomena, known as ‘entanglement’, to achieve high-speed communication. So what are ‘qubits’ and what is the ‘entanglement’ phenomenon,’ which are the core to making the quantum mechanism work such wonders?

Classical computers are based on a binary system of using either a ‘0’ or a ‘1’ state. That means the computer can compute in only one state at a time (either a 1 or a 0). However, in the case of Quantum computing, the qubits can exist simultaneously in ‘0’ or ‘1’ or in both states, referred to as a ‘superposition’. (The core principle behind atomic clocks is also quantum superposition, which allows atoms to exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling them to detect atomic energy transitions with exceptional precision). This ability of quantum computers to operate in both states at the same time results in the ability to process data efficiently at extraordinarily high speeds.

Having discussed the basics of qubits, the other related phenomenon is ‘entanglement,’ which is at the heart of quantum physics and future quantum technologies. The phenomenon of entanglement is observed at subatomic scales. When two particles, such as a pair of photons or electrons, become entangled, they remain connected even when separated by vast distances. Likewise, in Quantum Computing, the two qubits are said to be entangled when the state of one qubit is directly correlated to the state of the other, irrespective of how far apart they are from each other. If the property of one qubit changes, the property of the other will also change in the same manner, without any delay or connection between them. In other words, knowing the state of one particle automatically tells us something about its companion, even when they are far apart. The advent of large-scale versions of these quantum computers based on this unique concept of qubits entanglement will open up endless possibilities never comprehended before. With the incredible speed-ups brought by entanglement and superposition, quantum computers will outperform all traditional computers by being able to perform calculations and solve algorithms considered too complex to be solved with currently available computing power.

The road to the construction of the first large-scale quantum computing systems is not easy, though. It is fraught with challenges which need to be surmounted. The biggest hurdle in the quest for practical quantum computing is the qubit’s unstable nature.

Qubits are inherently unstable because their quantum states (superposition and entanglement) are incredibly fragile and easily disturbed by environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, electromagnetic waves, etc, resulting in a qubit losing its quantum state, a phenomenon called decoherence. So far, researchers have only been able to stabilise them for fractions of a second, meaning the information they hold is quickly lost. However, the good news is that technological giants such as IBM, Google, Amazon and Microsoft, realising the full potential of quantum power, are investing heavily to overcome the qubits instability-related issues, alongside building scalable quantum hardware. In the latest development, for instance, Microsoft unveiled Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum chip powered by a new Topological Core architecture. This computer uses tropical qubits, which are more stable and scalable compared to traditional qubits. Technologically speaking, this latest innovation by Microsoft is a huge step forward towards the realisation of the quantum dream machine i.e. the construction of the first full-scale quantum computer.

Having covered in some detail the basic concepts behind the Quantum principles, we can better appreciate how Quantum technology, in combination with AI, has the potential to play a pivotal role in revolutionizing sports. Areas of major impact could include athlete monitoring, performance analysis, injury prevention, game simulation, etc. Athlete Monitoring: Quantum computing power can be used by analysing large amounts of data gathered in real time from advanced wearable quantum sensor devices to monitor an athlete’s health (such as heart rate and body movement) and performance. Also, personalised training programmes can be devised using an athlete’s unique physiological data to optimise performance. Injury Diagnosis and Prevention: Advanced high-speed quantum sensors can be deployed on sports grounds to diagnose injuries to the heart, knee and brain.

This brings us to an important area of Concussion Detection and Monitoring (rapid concussion analysis). Contact sports such as Boxing, Rugby, Hockey, etc., are high-risk sports where athletes are prone to getting hit around the head region, which could result in brain concussion. The current system of diagnosis lacks the speed and computing power to give a complete and accurate picture. Instead, the doctor on the field needs to rely more on the athlete’s immediate responses, cognitive and MRI tests, which lack the speed and accuracy for proper diagnostics and treatment. Quantum-enabled sensors, on the other hand, are super fast and extremely accurate because of their sensitivity to electromagnetic fields and their ability to detect even the minutest of biological changes. Because of this characteristic, these quantum sensors have the potential to detect microscopic changes in neural activity or restricted blood flow to the brain, a primary cause of concussion, even before any outward symptoms appear in the player.

As such, this extraordinary quantum-enabled technology has the potential to save hundreds and thousands of lives lost each year due to delayed diagnosis for concussion and late treatment.

The above is only a glimpse of what to expect. We are on the threshold of a Quantum revolution. It has made enormous strides in recent years. With continued investment and breakthroughs in quantum research, it is just a matter of time before it impacts sports most practically, and when that happens, the world of sports will not be the same again.

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