(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the key role of sports manufacturing and building a strong ecosystem for it across India during his speech at the Playcom Business of Sports Summit 2025 in New Delhi. IOA President PT Usha joined him at the event, where they discussed boosting Indian sports growth.
Mandaviya focused on creating a vibrant sports manufacturing sector. “Sports manufacturing is crucial,” he said. “We must build an ecosystem with a solid work culture and spot talent right from the grassroots level. That’s why we have Khelo India centres in every district.”
The Indian sports goods industry is booming, valued at USD 4.88 billion (about Rs 42,877 crore) in 2024. Experts predict it will reach USD 6.6 billion (Rs 57,800 crore) by 2027 and soar to Rs 87,300 crore by 2034. This sector employs over 5 lakh people, mostly in small and medium enterprises in hubs like Meerut, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Delhi-NCR. India ranks as the third-largest sports goods manufacturer in Asia and the 21st biggest exporter worldwide, shipping goods worth USD 523 million in 2023-24 to over 90 countries. Top buyers include the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, and France, with new markets opening in South Africa, UAE, Canada, and Sweden.
Mandaviya also praised the new National Sports Governance Bill, calling it a game-changer for better management in sports. “India is so diverse—we need strong governance,” he noted. “When I became Sports Minister, federations were always at odds. Now, women participate everywhere in sports.” He added that parents once pushed kids away from sports, but today, they encourage both studies and athletics equally.
The minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching the Khelo India scheme in 2014, which sparked a nationwide sports culture. Under this initiative, events like the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, Winter Games, Para Games, and the first-ever Beach Games (held this year) help identify young talent for big stages such as the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships. The scheme has also built top-notch Khelo India Centres of Excellence across the country.
Mandaviya shared PM Modi’s vision: India should join the world’s top five sporting nations. He urged athletes with government jobs, like ticket collectors, to prioritize their training and give it their all. On the Fit India Sundays on Cycle program, he called it a massive movement with record sign-ups. “India needs a sports culture on every street—make them playgrounds,” he said, quoting Modi: “One person’s step moves them forward, but 1.4 billion Indians stepping together creates a revolution.”
PT Usha shared her inspiring story from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she missed bronze by just 1/100th of a second. “It felt like a loss to many, but to me, it showed the world that an Indian woman can compete with the best,” she said. Usha wrapped up by urging India to shine beyond cricket—in athletics, gymnastics, swimming, and more. “No child in India should miss out on playing or dreaming big,” she concluded.
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