Panaji, October 2026: AI-powered robots, specially trained rescue dogs and more than 50 lifesavers will keep vigil over triathletes participating in IRONMAN 70.3 India as they take to the Arabian Sea off Miramar Beach, Goa, for the opening leg of the endurance race on November 1 (Sunday).
The three-tier safety arrangement for the opening leg of India’s biggest endurance race, which will see participants from 30 countries, has been put in place by Drishti Marine, the state government-appointed lifesaving agency tasked with preventing drowning incidents and handling emergencies along Goa’s coastline.
According to Navin Awasthi, Chief Executive Officer of Drishti Marine, a 75-member lifesaving team will be deployed to ensure the participants’ safety. The agency will also have five jet skis, surfboards, two jeeps and two boats on standby to respond to emergencies. Three canines from its ‘Paw Squad’, specially trained in beach safety, will also be stationed at Miramar when the race begins with a 1.9 km swim in the waters off the beach.
Drishti Marine will also deploy its state-of-the-art technologies, AURUS and TRITON, to ensure the athletes’ safety. AURUS is a self-driving robot developed by Drishti Marine, while TRITON uses onboard AI to monitor non-swim zones, identify threats and assist lifesavers in preventing mishaps. Together, the two technologies provide comprehensive beach safety coverage.
“We are proud to provide the necessary safety support for the sixth time running to the prestigious triathlon, which brings in participants from all over India and the world. Our lifesavers are well equipped to handle any emergency situations. In addition, we will be deploying our AI bots, AURUS and TRITON for the first time. Two trained dogs from our Paw Squad will also be posted at Miramar Beach for comprehensive support,” Awasthi said.
The canines in the Paw Squad are equipped with harnesses and rescue tubes. They are trained to identify people in distress in the water, swim towards them and allow them to hold on to the rescue tube before swimming back to shore with the person in tow.
IRONMAN 70.3 India is a triathlon endurance event covering a total distance of 70.3 miles (113 km). The race consists of a 1.9 km (1.2-mile) swim, a 90 km (56-mile) cycling leg and a 21.1 km (13.1-mile) run. The event has attracted participants from more than 50 countries across its five previous editions.
