Op-Ed: The new playbook for Indian sports’ Amrit Kaal
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India's sports industry stands at an inflection point. What was once a $2 billion spectator sports market is hurtling toward a $130 billion opportunity by 2030.
This is not just incremental growth. At the heart of this revolution lies a new playbook: government-backed infrastructure, franchise-led professionalization, technology-enabled access, and a demographic dividend waiting to be unleashed. After decades, India's sporting ambitions are no longer constrained.
The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017 and allocated a record ₹3,794 crore budget for FY 2025-26, is revolutionizing talent development and infrastructure. With 326 new projects and 1,045 district centres, it has supported 2,845 athletes and seen 50,000 participate. This aggressive investment is yielding results: India's Paralympic medals jumped from 4 in Rio 2016 to 29 in Paris 2024.
The new Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 makes sports central to India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, including an audacious 2036 Olympic bid, demonstrating a commitment to becoming a global sporting power. If infrastructure is the foundation, franchise leagues are the superstructure driving commercial velocity. The Indian Premier League remains the crown jewel, a $16 billion+ business, now the world's second-richest sports league.
The Women's Premier League, launched in March 2023, has already demonstrated commercial viability, and the Pro Kabaddi League has modernized an ancient sport into prime-time entertainment. The revived Hockey India League and emerging leagues in pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and chess are creating year-round sporting calendars. This franchise model creates economic ecosystems: India's sports sponsorship industry crossed
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