Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sports analytics are game-changers in the world of sports, offering the potential to make data-driven decisions and optimize performance, prevent injuries, and tailor training strategies to individual athletes. In this study, we will explore how AI and sports analytics can be used to improve the performance and training effectiveness of athletes. The research design used was quantitative, descriptive and explanatory with the primary data obtained from 220 athletes of Telangana with different sports disciplines and competitive level by using a structured questionnaire. The instrument consisted of eight statements on a 5-point Likert scale which assesses athletes' perceptions of AI and sports analytics as well as demographic variables. Analysis of data collected was carried out using descriptive statistics, One-Sample t-test and Simple Linear Regression Analysis using SPSS Version 29.0. The results showed that most respondents had positive attitudes towards the use of AI and sports analytics to optimize sports performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, aid in decision making, minimize injury risk, and promote overall athlete development. The results from the One-Sample t-test showed that overall, athletes' perception of the role of AI and sports analytics compared to the neutral point was significantly higher with a t value of 23.62 and a p value of <0.001, indicating the positive impact of these technologies in enhancing sports performance. Moreover, regression analysis showed that, the use of AI was significantly associated with training effectiveness (β = 0.782, R² = 0.611, p < 0.001), accounting for 61.1% of the variance in training effectiveness. Overall, the study demonstrates that Artificial Intelligence and sports analytics are powerful tools in modern sports that can be used to great effect to benefit athletes, coaches, and sports organizations. Results give some real-world considerations for the promotion of AI-powered training systems and data-informed coaching practices to boost athlete performance and sports development outcomes.