Seventeen-year-old international tennis player Daksh Kukreti is back on the court barely four weeks after undergoing robotic-assisted surgery for a sports-related hernia — a recovery timeline that usually takes months for athletes.

Daksh’s return comes as India marks National Sports Day, underscoring how cutting-edge medical technologies are helping young players minimize downtime and pursue their sporting dreams without long interruptions.

The teenager had developed a hernia caused by abdominal wall strain, a common setback in high-intensity sports. But unlike traditional surgery, which often involves larger incisions and prolonged rehabilitation, the robotic-assisted approach offered Daksh a quicker, safer recovery.

“Robotic surgery allows for minimal incisions, reduced tissue trauma, and faster rehabilitation,” explained Dr. Vishal Soni, Gujarat-based robotic hernia surgeon who performed the procedure. “For athletes, this means minimal disruption to training schedules and an early return to competition.”

The procedure was carried out using advanced robotic platforms like the da Vinci surgical system, which provides enhanced precision and control to surgeons. For young athletes whose careers depend on uninterrupted training, such innovations are proving transformative.

As robotic surgery gains ground in India, experts say cases like Daksh’s are setting new benchmarks in sports medicine. By combining technology with surgical expertise, doctors are not only managing injuries more effectively but also helping safeguard the future of emerging talent in competitive sports.