INDIA’S SPORTS RESURGENCE

For the longest time, India’s sporting prowess has heavily been associated with Cricket. Fair enough, the numbers and traction achieved is second to none. However, it will be unfair to ignore an array of sports that are leading this resurgence.

Grassroots development, foreign investments, changes in taste and preferences, increase in accessibility and a fast-growing middle-class population are all contributing to the discovery of a budding and enthusiastic sports industry. 

Here is an insight into what is brewing in the space.

A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN:  

 Indian Leagues:

India has 37 recognized leagues that span across the entire calendar year. Apart from a weighty Indian Premier League, The Indian Super League, The Pro Kabaddi League, and Pro Volleyball League, all boast of heavy local and international sponsors such as Coca-Cola and Vivo.

Most leagues also boast of a presence in key markets such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru among others.

NBA:

A big win for this sport hungry nation was the announcement of preseason games by the National Basketball Association. From elite basketball training to player visits at academies and camps, the NBA sees potential in a market which has thriving youth participation, an established 3x3 Basketball League along with past and present players of Indian origin who have played at the league level.

NHL:

In a recent article in the New York Times, the story of ‘Hockey in Heaven’ came to light. The National Hockey League’s director of social impact spotted a passionate Indian women’s ice hockey team in Leh, Ladakh also known as Little Tibet. They were later invited to Toronto for the Canada Hockey Festival for further exposure and festivities.  

GLOBAL FOOTBALL IN INDIA:

 Paris Saint Germain:

In a recent announcement via the Head of Communications, the club expressed interest in the Indian market. The league like many other European clubs is constantly evaluating the market through academies and key investments. Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Boca Juniors are among a few others that have their presence through academies and training institutions in India.

 Ligue de Football Professionnel:

The Professional Football League plans to make monumental steps in India. We can expect them in the form of upcoming partnerships and activations across the country.

 U-17 World Cup:

In 2020, India will play host to the U-17 Women’s Football World Cup. Coaches are busy scouting and preparing players for this global event which will see top talent from around the globe compete for the coveted cup. Overall, this could be the massive push needed for women’s football in India.

 THE RETAIL BUSINESS:

Industry professionals pegged India’s market for sports goods at $2.6 billion in 2018. A befitting result followed suit.

Under Armour:

One of the world’s leading sports apparel company launched in India a few months ago. Apart from brick-and-mortar and online sales, it is a matter of time to take note of the strategies UA brings forth to establish itself in the Indian market.

 Decathlon Dominance:

French retailer Decathlon made massive leaps in the fitness equipment and apparel industry due to its low-end pricing and overhead costs. As a result, Decathlon garnered more revenue than older local rivals such as Adidas, Nike or Puma in FY18.

SPORTS TECH INDIA:

 Investments:

In 2006, Sequoia Capital, a revered US Based VC entered India by acquiring Westbridge Capital Partners, an established Indian venture capital firm. Since then, Sequoia India raised a total of $1.5 billion in the market. Recently, its first early-stage accelerator program, Surge selected eight competent Indian startups to fund and mentor.

Disruptors:

From voice recognition technology to podcasts, audio is deemed as the latest disruptor. To complement the same, a Delhi based startup, SportsFlashes launched India’s first internet-based sports radio. It boasts of a bank full of original content, trivia, and interviews in multiple languages owning rights to some massive global events. 

FUTURE:

Certain challenges will only see the light of day with time but it is safe to say that there hasn’t been a better time to invest and nurture sports in India.

From government driven plans, internally facilitated sports arms or externally led global influxes, the country is on an upward trajectory in the business of sports.