Chennai: National-level shooter and national medalist Homanshika Reddy Pullagurla is developing a wearable technology system that tracks spinal movement in real time, with the aim of helping athletes and coaches identify movement patterns linked to injury risks.The 21-year-old’s venture, Somatrace, was inspired by her own experience with injury and watching a friend leave sport because of one. Initially designed for rifle shooters, the system uses sensors to capture spinal movement during training and provide data on posture and movement that may not be visible to the naked eye, according to a statement.Homanshika, who took up shooting as a hobby at 12, said her experience in competitive sport made her aware of how small changes in posture and repetitive movements can affect performance and potentially contribute to injuries.The idea has earned her a place among the Top 20 finalists of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026, Samsung’s national education and innovation programme for young innovators.Through the programme’s Bootcamp, Homanshika tested her concept, worked with mentors and explored its technical and commercial potential.Homanshika now hopes to develop Somatrace into a scalable solution that can help athletes and coaches better understand movement, improve training decisions and potentially reduce injury-related interruptions to sporting careers.
